Tokyo: Meiji Shrine & Akihabara — Guide Sam
April, 2025
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.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:00 Meet at the hotel
- 10:40 Meiji Shrine
- 11:20 Takeshita Street
- 12:30 Lunch in Shibuya (Hidakaya)
- 13:10 Shibuya PARCO
- 14:40 Shibuya Sky
- 15:20 Cafe in Shinjuku, see the 3D cat signage
- 16:30 Akihabara
- 18:00 Have dinner at a restaurant in front of Akihabara Station, then disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:00 at hotel and ended at 18:00. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish. It included lunch in Shibuya (Hidakaya) at 12:30.
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine at 10:40, Takeshita Street at 11:20, Shibuya PARCO at 13:10, Shibuya Sky at 14:40, Cafe in Shinjuku, see the 3D cat signage at 15:20 and Akihabara at 16:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tokyo to Harajuku by train (208JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Shibuya by subway (178JPY); Shibuya to Shinjuku by train (167JPY); Shinjuku to Akihabara by train (178JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 731JPY per person.
What Is a Private Anime and Pop Culture Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Harajuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara
We had a great time, as I had heard in advance that the guests were fans of Pokémon, Dragon Ball, and NARUTO. The guests visit a major theme park resort four times a year, and thanks to their knowledge of the Japan pavilion there, they felt a sense of Japanese atmosphere upon seeing the torii gate at Meiji Shrine. On Takeshita Street, the guests found a Dragon Ball gachapon machine and gave it a try. On Takeshita Street and in Shibuya, it was hard to find an available ramen shop, and since the guests did not want to wait too long, we went around to several places before they were satisfied with tonkotsu ramen, gyoza, and fried rice at a casual ramen chain.
At Shibuya PARCO, the guests purchased items such as a Dragon Ball figure, a NARUTO plush toy, and Pokémon stickers.
For Shibuya Sky, we managed to get tickets two days before the tour, and although it was windy, the clear weather made it enjoyable. At the Tamashii Nations Store in Akihabara, the guests purchased around 45,000 yen worth of items, including a figure requested by someone else. Since they were unsure whether they could carry it all home, I mentioned that they might be able to arrange shipping at their hotel. We parted ways in front of the elevator of an izakaya I had recommended.
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 | Tokyo～Harajuku | 208JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Shibuya | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shibuya～Shinjuku | 167JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shinjuku～Akihabara | 178JPY |
| Total | 731JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel at 10:00, and the tour finished at Have dinner at a restaurant in front of Akihabara Station, then at 18:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 hours in total, from 10:00 to 18:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Shibuya PARCO, Shibuya Sky, Cafe in Shinjuku, see the 3D cat signage and Akihabara.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 731JPY 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?
Sam 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.
Hi, I’m Sam.
I am happy to welcome you all to Japan.
Since I was a child, my parents welcomed many international students into our home and I had many opportunities to interact with them. My mother is a translator, and I have always seen her guiding foreigners around Japan, so it was natural for me to start doing the same.
I am good at guiding people to popular places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, as well as photogenic spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Since I was a child, I’ve watched anime like Pokémon and played Nintendo games, and I still buy around 100 manga comic books a month. I love shopping in Akihabara! I currently live in Urayasu City, Chiba, so close that I can see fireworks from Disneyland from my house every night.
Please feel free to ask me anything!
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We are so happy that we got to experience Tokyo with Sam (Sayumi) as our tour guide! She was so friendly, helpful, and brimming with fun facts. We really appreciated that after giving her a draft itinerary, she provided great recommendations about how to maximize our experience on the tour. She also went above and beyond to help us find a few specific items on our shopping list in Shibuya and Shinjuku, and went out of her way to take us to several One Piece stores because we mentioned it was a favorite show of ours. Overall we are so pleased and would highly recommend Sam to anyone looking to have a blast in Tokyo!