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
- 10:00 Meet inside the Shinagawa Station ticket gates. Guide to coin lockers. Store 6 suitcases.
- 10:50-11:30 Meiji Shrine
- 11:50-12:10 Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Take the Ginza Line to Asakusa
- 13:00-14:00 Lunch: monjayaki 'Kamiya'
- Asakusa sightseeing until 14:45
- Take the Toei Asakusa Line to the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station
- Collect luggage from the coin lockers and head to Tokyo Cruise Terminal Station via Shimbashi. End 16:00
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Meiji Shrine at 10:50 and Shibuya Scramble Crossing at 11:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinagawa Station to Harajuku Station by train (178JPY); Yoyogi to Shibuya by train (146JPY); Shibuya to Asakusa by subway (252JPY); Asakusa to Keikyu Shinagawa Station by subway (422JPY); Shinagawa Station to Tokyo Cruise Terminal Station by train (555JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,553JPY per person.
Title: Can You Do a Private Tokyo Sightseeing and Cruise Terminal Transfer in One Day? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from North America who arrived that morning by Shinkansen from Kyoto Station. They were scheduled to board a cruise ship departing at 11:00 PM that night, and had booked an 8-hour tour thinking it would be fine to reach the Tokyo Cruise Terminal around 9:00 PM. However, it turned out they actually needed to arrive by 4:00 PM, so the sightseeing time was shortened. Since each of the guests was carrying two large suitcases, and we traveled by train from Shinagawa to Shimbashi and then via the Yurikamome line to Tokyo Cruise Terminal Station, this outing was more of a transfer assist than a typical guiding day.
In Asakusa, I introduced them to monjayaki, and the guest who made the booking was very pleased with it. Some of the guests were less enthusiastic about it. Perhaps because of several consecutive days of rain in Tokyo, it was about as crowded as I have ever seen it.
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 | Shinagawa Station～Harajuku Station | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Yoyogi～Shibuya | 146JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Shibuya～Asakusa | 252JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Asakusa～Keikyu Shinagawa Station | 422JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shinagawa Station～Tokyo Cruise Terminal Station | 555JPY |
| Total | 1,553JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine and Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,553JPY 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?
Maki 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 Maki. Nice to meet you.
I used to work at a travel agency as a tour escort so I have traveled to more than 50 countries and all 47 prefectures in Japan.
When I came back to Japan from abroad, I always noticed virtues in Japan anew.
I’m thrilled to introduce such kinds of stories and favorite places to you.
I like bar hopping, cooking, history, and outdoor activities such as camping, cycling.
I have a licence of International Sake Sommlier and Wine Expert. I’m happy if I would have a chance to introduce you about sake and wine.
I’m also a mother of junior high school girl. Let’s have fun together!
Oct 9, 2025
301catherinep
Fabulous customised tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised…
Oct 9, 2025
301catherinep
Fabulous customised tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised the tour for me and made six
hours fly by. I got a fabulous overview of the city and tips on where else to visit. Plus some
help with my onward travel. Highly recommended.
Oct 2, 2025
Gene L
Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and…
Oct 2, 2025
Gene L
Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I enjoyed this tour immensely. Maki was absolutely great. If you want to get oriented in Tokyo take this tour first. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and considerate to our needs for seeing the best of Tokyo in one day. I would recommend this tour on the first day to experience negotiating the Tokyo Metro and famous sights.
Aug 31, 2025
T
tmay2921
Maki is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring…
Aug 31, 2025
T
tmay2921
Maki is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring Tokyo with Maki. She curated the tour perfectly to our interests, blending culture, history, and hidden gems that we never would have discovered on our own. We left the tour with a much deeper appreciation for Tokyo and Japanese culture.
Thank you so much, Maki, for such an amazing tour—we’re truly grateful and would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting!
Jul 12, 2025
O6400ONsaram
Maki san kakkoii desu
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki was generous and flexible! She met us…
Jul 12, 2025
O6400ONsaram
Maki san kakkoii desu
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki was generous and flexible! She met us at our hotel, helped us understand the subway
system, and made a dinner reservation. She made our first day in Japan memorable and
put us at ease for the rest of our trip. Thank you, Maki!