Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Ted
November, 2024
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
- 1030 Hotel Ginza Premier (5 min from Ginza Line Shimbashi) meeting point Kabukiza Theatre Tsukiji Outer Market Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
- 1215 From Kamiyacho to Tokyo Tower
- 1325 From Kamiyacho to Asakusa
- 1355 Nakamise Sensoji Temple Asakusa Shrine
- 1610 Disperse within the Sensoji Temple grounds if desired (see below)

What Is a Private Tokyo Tour Like for Senior Travelers? A Licensed Guide's Report Covering Tsukiji, Tokyo Tower, and Asakusa
[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private tour in Tokyo for a group of guests visiting from Europe. The guests had spent about three weeks traveling around India before flying to Japan. The day after this tour, they were scheduled to board a cruise ship and travel to Osaka, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore before returning home.
The guests had arrived in Tokyo earlier in the week and had already spent two days on a separate tour, visiting Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji Temple, and Meiji Shrine. Since I had received this information during the prior arrangements, I had planned the itinerary to avoid overlap.
The guests had a reservation at Tokyo Tower for 1:00, so I built the plan around that, including Tsukiji, Akihabara, Tokyo Tower, and the Outer Garden of the Imperial Palace (with lunch at the Shin-Marunouchi Building), and, if time allowed, extending the visit to Nezu Shrine. Beforehand, I had received a message saying they would appreciate a relaxed schedule with time set aside for a proper restaurant visit, so I had tried to keep the pace comfortable.
When I met them at the hotel in the morning, they told me they had gone to the Imperial Palace earlier in the week but had not been able to enter. Unfortunately, entry was not possible today either, but I explained that I could give an explanation around the Tatsumi Yagura watchtower, and that even if we could enter the East Gardens, there were no buildings to see there. They understood and accepted this, so we kept the plan to have lunch at the Shin-Marunouchi Building.
However, after walking from the hotel in Ginza to Tsukiji, and from Kamiyacho to Tokyo Tower, one of the guests had knee trouble, and the others also found long distances difficult, so they said they would like to make just one more stop. In particular, they wished to return to Sensoji Temple, since their earlier visit had lacked sufficient explanation and they had not had a chance to shop.
We had lunch at a restaurant on Kannon-dori. Afterward, at their request, they purchased a Japanese kitchen knife (a rather high-priced one) at a knife shop on Shin-Nakamise Street. After I guided them around the grounds of Sensoji Temple, they said they would like to shop a little more and then make their own way back by taxi, so although some time remained, we ended the tour there.
The tour was scheduled for eight hours, and although we were not able to visit many places, I believe the guests were reasonably 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 | Subway | Tsukiji~Kamiyacho | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Kamiyacho~Asakusa | 209JPY |
| Total | 387JPY | ||
I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.
My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
– Senso ji Temple
– Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
– Tokyo Skytree
– Ueno Park
– Nezu Shrine
– Imperial Palace outer park
– Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
– Tsukiji Fish Market
– Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
– Ginza
– Odaiba
– Hama Rikyu Garden
– Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
– Roppongi
– Meiji Shrine
– Harajuku & Takeshita Street
– Shibuya
– and Any of your interest.
I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.
I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.
Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.
A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.
In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.
Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.
Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.
I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.
Jul 2, 2026
Susan M
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Family fun in Tokyo.
A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour…
Jul 2, 2026
Susan M
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Family fun in Tokyo.
A wonderful day. Ted customized our tour to suit our families interests. Definitely a great way to see Tokyo.
Jun 26, 2026
ann r
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Educational with kind, generous guide
My teenage sons and I learned…
Jun 26, 2026
ann r
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Educational with kind, generous guide
My teenage sons and I learned so much about Tokyo and Japan in a few hours. We were very fortunate to have such an excellent guide! We highly recommend Ted and appreciated his knowledgeable and thoughtful sightseeing tour of Tokyo. He planned a wonderful itinerary for us and made it all happen, with excellent pacing of breaks and good conversation.
Jun 14, 2026
141yunb
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
We…
Jun 14, 2026
141yunb
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Can’t believe all that we got to see in 6 hours
We had a fantastic time with Ted, our guide. He contacted us prior to the trip to customize an itinerary that would have things of interest to everyone in our group. He shared helpful history for each of the places we visited, from Tsukigi market, Harujuku district, to Meiji Shrine. He had great recommendations for other parts of our trip. He is an expert at navigating the Tokyo train system. This tour is family friendly, but also very active in terms of walking to cover all the places we got to visit. The tour with Ted is definitely a highlight of our trip, I would highly recommend.
May 18, 2026
B
Beth56646
Great tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Ted and I agreed upon what we would see…
May 18, 2026
B
Beth56646
Great tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Ted and I agreed upon what we would see soon after I registered for the tour. He met us at
the hotel. Ted was very knowledgeable about both the places we visited and Japanese
history. I highly recommend him
