This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Hotel
- 9:50 Rikugien Garden
- 11:00 Ueno Park, Toshogu Shrine, Kiyomizu Kannon Hall, etc.
- 12:10 Kappabashi
- 13:00 Lunch @ Apollo
- 14:00 Sensoji Temple, etc.
- 16:00 Meiji Shrine
- 17:00 Dismiss @ Shibuya Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Rikugien Garden at 9:50, Ueno Park, Toshogu Shrine, Kiyomizu Kannon Hall, etc. at 11:00, Kappabashi at 12:10, Sensoji Temple, etc. at 14:00 and Meiji Shrine at 16:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shibuya to Komagome by train (260JPY); Komagome to Ueno by train (200JPY); Ueno Koen Yamashita by bus (210JPY); Asakusa to Meiji-jingumae by subway (260JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (160JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,090JPY per person.
What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Rikugien, Ueno, Kappabashi, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine
I guided a group visiting from Oceania. It was their first day in Japan, and after a stay in Tokyo they would board a ship from Yokohama. The weeping cherry blossoms at Rikugien Garden were in full bloom and absolutely stunning. Because we arrived first thing in the morning, we were able to enter easily, but by the time we left there was a long line waiting to get in (mostly Japanese visitors). The cherry blossoms at Ueno Park were also more in bloom than expected, and there was quite a crowd. At Ueno Station, we used the ticket machine to issue Shinkansen tickets for their later trip to Nagano. At Kappabashi, where there are many great deals on tableware, they bought a lot of items such as chopsticks, small plates, and soy sauce bottles. Before that, for lunch, we passed by an okonomiyaki shop near Ueno that looked delicious, so we peeked inside, and since it was a place where you sit on the floor, I confirmed that it would be fine before we went in. They ordered okonomiyaki and yakisoba, enjoyed the experience of cooking on the iron griddle, and were delighted, saying the food was very tasty and a good choice. In Asakusa, they bought a paper umbrella and a tote bag. At the final stop, Meiji Shrine, I introduced a way to draw omikuji fortunes with peace of mind, which they liked very much. It was a long tour, but it went smoothly, they were able to do some good shopping, and they seemed very satisfied.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shibuya～Komagome | 260JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Komagome～Ueno | 200JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Ueno Koen Yamashita / Toei Bus～Kikuyabashi / Toei Bus | 210JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Asakusa～Meiji-jingumae | 260JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 160JPY |
| Total | 1,090JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Rikugien Garden, Ueno Park, Toshogu Shrine, Kiyomizu Kannon Hall, etc., Kappabashi, Sensoji Temple, etc. and Meiji Shrine.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,090JPY per person across 5 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Takako is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Hello!! I’m Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
Please let me know what interests you.
I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
Looking forward to meeting you!!
Jul 21, 2026
Z222TCshannonr
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
Our wonderful guide,…
Jul 21, 2026
Z222TCshannonr
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
Our wonderful guide, Takako, took us on a tour of Tokyo. She helped us create a plan based on our interests and was flexible when we needed to change the itinerary a bit due to extreme heat. She was friendly, informative, and helpful. We enjoyed learning about Japanese culture and history from Takako, and we saw amazing temples and ate delicious sushi. I highly recommend this tour and Takako as a guide!
Jul 9, 2026
cronima2
Perfectly guided day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had an amazing day with…
Jul 9, 2026
cronima2
Perfectly guided day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had an amazing day with Takako. Takako got in contact prior to our tour to create the perfect itinerary. She collected us from our hotel and helped us get our travel cards and showed us how to use the public transport. Takako altered our tour and took us to Harajuku Takeshite street, which our teenagers really enjoyed. Takako was really informative and friendly and made the day really enjoyable. We would have no hesitation in booking her again. Takako showed us more in 6 hours than we would have seen in a week if left to our own devices. Thanks Takako and we will watch The Transporter!
Jul 3, 2026
johnoD792VT
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Guide!
Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on…
Jul 3, 2026
johnoD792VT
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Guide!
Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on the places we visited and picked a delicious ramen shop for lunch. We really appreciated her thorough communication and friendly demeanor.
Jul 3, 2026
71nidhim
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main…
Jul 3, 2026
71nidhim
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main attractions with care and detail. We would highly recommend doing this activity.