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 Meet at the hotel
- 9:20 Asakusa (observation deck, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple, etc.)
- 11:30 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 13:00 Lunch at Omotesando (tempura soba set meal)
- 14:30 Meiji Shrine
- 15:30 Stroll around Harajuku and Omotesando
- 16:30 Break at a vegan cafe
- 17:30 Disband at the hotel
What Is a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and Harajuku
The guests were visiting from North America and were close friends who lived near each other, traveling together and getting along like family. They were staying at a hotel in the Higashi-Ginza area and had arrived in Japan early the previous morning, so they had already seen Tsukiji. We therefore removed Tsukiji from the original plan and began sightseeing from Asakusa. Seeing Senso-ji Temple and the Nakamise shopping street, they were delighted, saying this was exactly the Japan they had hoped to see. At the Imperial Palace, they were moved by its vastness, tranquility, and greenery, and at Meiji Shrine they were surprised to find such a quiet, serene shrine right next to the lively Harajuku district. For lunch they wanted tempura, so I took them to a soba restaurant where they enjoyed tempura and soba. They were delighted with the crispy tempura. Takeshita Street felt a bit overwhelming and crowded to them, but they said the back streets like Cat Street were quiet, relaxed, and felt very Japanese. As one of the guests could not have dairy products, we took a break at a vegan cafe, and they were satisfied with the vegan sweets as well. One of the guests had hurt an ankle the day before, but still wanted to see as much as possible, so we walked at an unhurried pace with occasional rests and managed to complete the desired itinerary. They were very surprised at how each neighborhood in Tokyo has a completely different atmosphere, and they enjoyed it greatly. After one more day of sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to travel to the Kansai and Kyushu areas by cruise ship from the Port of Tokyo.
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 | Higashi-Ginza～Asakusa | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Asakusa～Otemachi (Tokyo) | 290JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Omotesando | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Omotesando～Higashi-Ginza | 180JPY |
| Total | 870JPY | ||
Hello! I’m May.
I was born and raised in Yokohama, and now I live in Tokyo.
For more than 25 years, I have worked as a translator, turning English books into Japanese. The genres I’ve worked on range from mysteries and romances to nonfiction and more.
Through my work as a translator, I’ve worked hard to bring foreign cultures closer to Japanese readers. Now, as a tour guide, I’m excited to help share Japanese culture with people from around the world. I believe being a tour guide is a truly meaningful job, serving as a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world.
I take great pride in Japanese culture, food, and history—and it makes me happy to share them with others. At the same time, I’m also very interested in foreign cultures and histories. Through my work as a guide, I’m thrilled to meet people from different backgrounds and explore new perspectives together.
Let’s enjoy this exciting journey of discovery together!