Tokyo: Hanzomon & Akihabara — Guide Masa

March, 2026

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

  • 8:00 hotel (Nishi-Shinjuku) meet up
  • 8:30 Sakuradamon, Nijubashi
  • 9:20 Hanzomon
  • 10:00 Chidorigafuchi
  • 11:00 Tsukiji
  • 12:50 Asakusa
  • 14:00 Akihabara
  • 16:00 End

Tour Itinerary in Detail

The tour started at 8:00 at hotel (Nishi-Shinjuku) meet up and ended at 16:00. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish.

Over the course of the day the route took in Sakuradamon, Nijubashi at 8:30, Hanzomon at 9:20, Chidorigafuchi at 10:00, Tsukiji at 11:00, Asakusa at 12:50 and Akihabara at 14:00.

Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku (Tokyo Metro) to Kasumigaseki (Tokyo) by subway (180JPY); Kudanshita to Tsukiji by subway (180JPY); Tsukiji to Asakusa by subway (210JPY); Asakusa (TX) to Akihabara by train (230JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 800JPY per person.

What Can You See on a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo's Imperial Palace, Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Akihabara? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America. As the East Gardens were closed that day, we entered through Sakuradamon Gate and took in the view of Nijubashi Bridge. Early in the morning there were few people, making it ideal for group photos. The guests seemed more interested in the pine trees of the outer garden than in the bridge, and were delighted, saying they looked like bonsai.

Since the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, we strolled along the western half of the outer perimeter of the Imperial Palace from Sakuradamon Gate. Every direction offered a continuous succession of wonderful scenery, and the guests were thrilled and took many photos.

We covered the classic course of Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Akihabara, but at each stop we went over schedule taking commemorative photos and enjoying snacks. Having fully enjoyed the cherry blossoms around the Imperial Palace perimeter, we gave up on the planned visit to Ueno and focused only on Akihabara. Time passed as the guests became absorbed in anime goods and arcade games, and we reached the scheduled end time. Since everyone was a little tired from all the walking, we finished the tour by resting at a coffee shop.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayShinjuku (Tokyo Metro)～Kasumigaseki (Tokyo)180JPY
Section 2SubwayKudanshita～Tsukiji180JPY
Section 3SubwayTsukiji～Asakusa210JPY
Section 4TrainAsakusa (TX)～Akihabara230JPY
Total800JPY

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?

The guide met the guests at hotel (Nishi-Shinjuku) meet up at 8:00, and the tour finished at at 16:00.

How long does the tour last?

About 8 hours in total, from 8:00 to 16:00.

Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Sakuradamon, Nijubashi, Hanzomon, Chidorigafuchi, Tsukiji, Asakusa and Akihabara.

How much did transport cost on this tour?

Public transport came to 800JPY per person across 4 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?

Masa 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.

Tour Report by Masa

Hello everyone, and welcome to Japan!
I obtained a national tour guide license back in 2001, while I have been busy teaching English full time for many years. Since 2018 I have enjoyed guiding guests from all over the world.

I live in a western suburb of Tokyo, so I can guide you around the wider Tama area as well as central Tokyo. I love introducing visitors to both the famous highlights and the hidden gems where you can take wonderful photos and experience authentic Japanese culture. Along the way, I enjoy sharing stories about Japanese history, traditions, and daily life.

I once worked in Australia as a teacher of Japanese language, which gave me many opportunities to communicate with people from different cultures.
I also enjoy golf — I even traveled alone to the UK for a golf tour.

I look forward to guiding you and helping your time in Japan both enjoyable and memorable.

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