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 Meeting point: GRAND NIKKO TOKYO DAIBA
- 10:10 Depart Daiba Station
- (Yurikamome)
- Shimbashi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- Nihombashi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
- 10:50 Arrive Otemachi Station
- Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens
- Nijubashi Bridge
- 11:40 Depart Otemachi Station
- (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- Kasumigaseki Station
- (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
- 12:00 Arrive Shinjuku Station
- Shinjuku Kabukicho
- Omoide Yokocho
- 12:30 Depart Shinjuku Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 12:40 Arrive Harajuku Station
- Harajuku Meiji Shrine
- Break: Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu
- Takeshita Street
- 13:30 Depart Harajuku Station
- (JR Yamanote Line)
- 13:40 Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Hachiko Statue
- 14:00 Depart Shibuya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 14:30 Arrive Shimbashi Station
- Dismissal: Shimbashi Station Yurikamome platform
What Is a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya
The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time. (Their home country is in Europe, and they had been living in Asia for the past ten years due to work.)
They had arrived at Narita Airport the previous night and taken a taxi to their Hotel. They planned to stay in Tokyo for a few days, then continue to Kyoto and Osaka, staying in Japan for a total of about ten days before returning home.
They mentioned they were planning to visit Disneyland the following day.
The tour took place during an intense heat wave, so we took several breaks along the way. (They said, "It has been very hot back home this year too, so we are used to it and will be fine.")
At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, we walked a full loop of the grounds despite the extreme heat.
I explained about "the history of Japan and the Imperial family" and "the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration."
There were questions such as "When was it built as a castle?" and "Why did Edo Castle become the Imperial Palace?"
There were also questions such as "Does the Emperor really live inside this Imperial Palace?", "What is the relationship between the Emperor and the Prime Minister?", and "How is the Prime Minister chosen?"
We then moved to Shinjuku. In Kabukicho, there was a comment that "it looks somehow different from other parts of Tokyo."
We moved on to Harajuku. At Meiji Shrine, I explained the differences between Shinto and Buddhism.
We took a break at Forest Terrace. They said, "It is wonderful that there is such a green area in the center of the city."
After that, we moved to Shibuya, crossed the Scramble Crossing, and took commemorative photos in front of the Hachiko statue.
There were questions such as "Is it always this crowded?" and "Why do so many people gather here?"
They also commented, "The whole city is clean. There is no litter on the ground," "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant," and "The subway is clean, quiet, and comfortable. The air conditioning works well too."
I saw them off at Shimbashi Station, where we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Daiba Station～Shimbashi Station | 325JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shimbashi Station～Otemachi Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi Station～Shinjuku Station | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shinjuku Station～Harajuku Station | 146JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Harajuku Station～Shibuya Station | 146JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Shibuya Station～Shimbashi Station | 178JPY |
| Total | 1,182JPY | ||
Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and…
Jul 21, 2026
Christelle_G
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Excellent tour guide
Masa san is extremely knowledgeable and lovely company. My 13-yr-old daughter and I had a great day walking around the sites we had picked with him. He tooks his time to explain all the history and then kindly walked us to the spot of our next booking as it was quite confusing. I would very highly recommend him. Of all the tours we did in Tokyo Masa Sam was my favourite tour guide.
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an…
Jul 1, 2026
97TexAg
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing day in Tokyo
Masa was our tour guide. Masa was an amazing tour guide that communicated extremely well ahead of time about the sites we would like to see in Tokyo, picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel, was very friendly and well prepared and finally but most importantly made our day in Tokyo very memorable.
We went to the Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Meiji Shinto Temple, imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen National Gatden, and Shibuya Crossing. All were great and amazing suggestions by Masa.
Would highly recommend this tour as it was a private tour guide for a full day and provided discretion on which 5-6 sites you want to see. Also highly recommend our tour guide Masa who was a wealth of knowledge and very friendly and charming.
15/10 would do again.
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our…
Jun 2, 2026
Tagare S
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great tour and guide!
This is a great tour, and our guide, Masa was really great. Although it was raining, he had no
hesitations in completing his tour and showing us great places around Tokyo. If you are still
on the fence about this, please don’t, you won’t regret it. Thank you, Masa!
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was…
Jun 1, 2026
Lisa_A
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Adler Family Tour
Our tour with Masa was incredible and filled with interesting facts and history, he gave us incredible insight on each location. We loved that we were able to choose 3-4 sites from a large selection and really spend enough time at each spot. Masa was kind and knowledgable and even helped us with a restaurant reservation for later in the evening when were unable to find one.