Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Ginza — Guide Mitch
October, 2026
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
- 9:00 Explanation of today's itinerary at the hotel
- 9:15—9:35 Head to Asakusa (by car)
- 9:35—10:40 Shopping at Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street. Visit Senso-ji Temple, explanation of Asakusa's history
- 10:40—11:55 Head to the Imperial Palace and East Gardens (by car)
- 11:55—12:50 Guide through the Imperial Palace East Gardens, with a careful explanation of the Otemon Gate and the history of Edo Castle
- 12:50-13:00 Head to Ginza (by car)
- 13:00 Shopping and lunch at Ginza Matsuya Department Store, then disband
Title: What Is a Private Chartered Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and Ginza
The guests were a group visiting from Asia, and one of them may have been a tour conductor accompanying the group, as they mentioned having been to Japan many times before. Since some members of the group had difficulty walking, they chartered a car, and the driver was also from the same region. We first went to Asakusa. Shopping began right away along Nakamise-dori, which took quite a long time. At the Imperial Palace East Gardens, some of the guests said it was hot, so a couple of them waited in the rest area while I guided the rest slowly through the gardens, taking plenty of time. They wanted to have lunch in Ginza, so I checked several sushi restaurants, but they were all fully booked. In the end, they decided to shop and eat at a department store in Ginza. Since the hotel was close by, they said they would walk back. Although it was hot, everyone was satisfied. A notable stop on the tour was the Imperial Palace East Gardens. These gardens are part of the former site of Edo Castle, once the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate, and today they are open to the public free of charge. Visitors can stroll through beautifully maintained traditional Japanese gardens, see the remaining stone walls and foundations of the old castle keep, and enjoy a peaceful green space in the heart of Tokyo. The gardens change with the seasons, offering cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, and colorful foliage in autumn.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
I am certified as a Top Guide by the JGA.
Drawing on my past experience as a guide, where I have consistently received positive feedback from guests, I will focus on the following key points in my guiding:
Explain the historical transition from Edo to Tokyo through engaging episodes and stories.
Offer a cross-cultural perspective on why concepts such as honji suijaku (the idea of local deities being manifestations of Buddhist figures), as seen at places like Meiji Shrine, represent a worldview that Japan can be proud of.
Provide warm and humorous interaction, incorporating the spirit of hospitality I learned while studying at Columbia University in the United States.
Use my experience working at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to explain Tokyo’s present-day situation with the support of statistical data.
Jul 7, 2026
Ruppa_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great guide and first experience in Tokyo
It was our first time…
Jul 7, 2026
Ruppa_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great guide and first experience in Tokyo
It was our first time to Japan. Mitch was a great guide, recommending the key sights in Tokyo. He contacted us before the trip so that he could set up an itinery that worked for our family. We learned about the culture and also how to navigate the trains! Mitch even took us back to our hotel at the end. Thank you for a great first experience in Japan!
Jun 8, 2026
TAMARA_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
Great experience, learning a lot. Get to see a lots…
Jun 8, 2026
TAMARA_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
Great experience, learning a lot. Get to see a lots of locations in one day. Mitch our guide is
very knowledgeable and the nicest person we have ever met.
May 7, 2026
Marianela25
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great customized Itinerary with Mitch!
Mitch was a fantastic tour guide. He…
May 7, 2026
Marianela25
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great customized Itinerary with Mitch!
Mitch was a fantastic tour guide. He was very polite and knew the city very well, so there wasn’t a lost minute in our day. He asked me what my preferences were so he could customize my itinerary, and it was great! I was taken to see some hidden gems out of the traditional touristic circuits (and for that Im really thankful). I feel I learnt a lot about the history and culture of Japan, and I got to listen to many good anecdotes from Mitch. I also had a great soba for Lunch, in a very small and cozy restaurant. Arigatou gosaimasu, Mitch!
Apr 29, 2026
163neilh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Asakusa Sensouji Temple, Imperial Palace & Meiji Shrine.
We had a fantastic…
Apr 29, 2026
163neilh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Asakusa Sensouji Temple, Imperial Palace & Meiji Shrine.
We had a fantastic day with our guide Mitch, he was very knowledgeable, a kind man & very generous with his time.
Mitch suggested sushi train for lunch pleasing our granddaughter greatly.
I would recommend Mitch for any type of tour, given he has excellent English.
Deb, Neil, Kate, Joel, Calla & Bodhi
Adelaide, South Australia 😃