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 18fl lobby of HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU
- 10:30 1 MEIJI JINGU SHRINE
- 11:30 2 THE IMPERIAL PALACE
- 13:00 3 TSUKIJI Outer Market
- 15:30 see off at Odakyu Shinjuku Ticket Information
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in MEIJI JINGU SHRINE at 10:30, IMPERIAL PALACE at 11:30, TSUKIJI Outer Market at 13:00 and see off at Odakyu Shinjuku Ticket Information at 15:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku (Tokyo Metro) to Meiji-jingumae by subway (180JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Nijubashimae by subway (210JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Tsukiji by subway (180JPY); Tsukiji to Shinjuku (Tokyo Metro) by subway (210JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 780JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Day Tour in Tokyo Like for Overseas Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report
Despite sharing the proposed itinerary several times in advance, there was no reply. I introduced the itinerary for the first time at the pickup Hotel on the day of the tour. The guests agreed to it, and we started smoothly. When I checked the messaging app, I found that the guide's email had gone unread. The group was very cheerful, and the day was full of laughter and jokes. The tour progressed well, with the guests showing almost no signs of fatigue. Regarding travel to Hakone and Kyoto for the following days, the vouchers had to be exchanged for tickets, so I accompanied the group to the Odakyu and JR information centers at Shinjuku Station, assisted with the procedures together, and then took my leave.
A notable stop on the tour was Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku Station is one of the busiest railway stations in the world, serving as a major hub for several train and subway lines in Tokyo. It connects travelers to many destinations, including the Odakyu line toward Hakone and JR lines across the region. The station is well known for its many entrances and exits, as well as its information centers where visitors can exchange rail passes and vouchers for tickets, making it an essential point for those continuing their journeys beyond the city.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Shinjuku (Tokyo Metro)～Meiji-jingumae | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Nijubashimae | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Tsukiji | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Tsukiji～Shinjuku (Tokyo Metro) | 210JPY |
| Total | 780JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited MEIJI JINGU SHRINE, IMPERIAL PALACE, TSUKIJI Outer Market and see off at Odakyu Shinjuku Ticket Information.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 780JPY 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.
Welcome to Japan. I hope you are going to enjoy your stay.
Who am I?
I am a Licensed Guide Interpreter at an age of 61.
I got an early retirement from 36 yrs of the employment in a Japanese financial sector.
I hope I can attend to you with the Japanese politeness, hospitality and smile.
What can I be expected?
I would like to introduce the photogenic sites, the indigenous experiences
and good Japanese local food around Tokyo, Hakone/Mt Fuji.
I might be able to show you the features of shrine and temple with a religious manner if you’d like.
As a matter of fact, I don’t have a specific religion to believe, though.
I love Japan and that’s why I started a new career as a guide.
What do I love?
Most of all, my family. I have a wife 56 yrs old, a son 28 yrs old and a daughter 25 yrs old.
I like eating raw fish and sushi, buckwheat noodles and curry rice.
How do I spend my spare time?
I run for 5 km in the morning listening to my favorite music.
I might have a chance to go to a studio program in the fitness club nearby once a week.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Thank you.
Sep 21, 2026
judygU2038FZ
A wonderful time in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had such a…
Sep 21, 2026
judygU2038FZ
A wonderful time in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had such a wonderful experience exploring Tokyo with our guide, Masa. From the moment we met him, he was an absolute gentleman—warm, kind, knowledgeable and incredibly easy to spend time with.
Masa made our day in Tokyo feel relaxed, personal and genuinely enjoyable. His knowledge of the city, its culture and hidden gems added so much to our experience, and it felt more like exploring Tokyo with a wonderful local friend than simply being on a tour.
He was attentive, patient and thoughtful throughout the entire day, and his lovely nature made the experience even more memorable.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Masa and would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to experience Tokyo in a special and authentic way. An absolute gentleman and truly a joy to explore this incredible city with. Thank you, Masa! 🇯🇵❤️
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour…
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour was individually crafted to the sites and activities that we wanted to see. We really enjoyed that we used public transportation. He had great insight and was very helpful. I highly recommend.
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even…
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even it was full day rainy and a bad day for walking. Masa san was a
great guide, he was very helpful and guided us very nicely.
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6…
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6 hour tour of Tokyo with a Government Guide for our first day, to help us ‘acclimatise’ to Tokyo….learn the trains/metro, get tips and ideas etc, plus obviously visit a few highlights. Masa our guide was brilliant, contacting us in advance to find out what we would like to see, then he produced a detailed itinerary for us to review (it was spot on). He kept in touch leading up to the day and led us through a great day. The tour (& Masa) exceeded our expectations