Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine — Guide Bruce
September, 2024
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
- 9:20 Meet at Hotel
- Depart at 9:32 by shuttle bus to JR Shinagawa Station
- 9:45 Assistance purchasing the "registered Suica" at the ticket machines at Shinagawa Station, which resumed sales in September.
- 10:00 Hachiko the Faithful Dog Statue, Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- 10:40 Meiji Shrine
- 11:40 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- 13:20 Lunch at "Tsukiji Sushisei Shinkan"
- 14:40 In front of the ticket gate at "Toei Asakusa Line Higashi-Ginza Station" (Explain the route to Asakusa Station and the return route from Asakusa Station to the hotel)
- Dismissal (Plan to watch a play in Asakusa from 16:30)
What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America who had arrived the day before. They planned to stay in Tokyo for a few days before continuing to Kyoto. One of the guests had visited Japan several times before, and another had lived in Japan long ago and was visiting for the second time. Both were very cheerful. On the Yamanote Line, they chatted with a group of junior high school students on a school trip; on the Chuo Line, they spoke with a group of university students returning to campus after lacrosse practice; and at a sushi restaurant, they struck up a friendly conversation with the Japanese guests seated next to them, using English and the Japanese phrases they had just learned. Since they had a theater performance to attend in Asakusa starting at 16:30, I explained the route from Higashi-ginza Station on the Toei Asakusa Line to Asakusa Station, as well as the return route from Asakusa Station back to their hotel, and 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 | Train | JR Yamanote Line Shinagawa Station～JR Yamanote Line Shibuya Station | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | JR Yamanote Line Shibuya Station～JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station～JR Yamanote Line Shinjuku Station | 150JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | JR Chuo Line Shinjuku Station～JR Chuo Line Kanda Station | 180JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Kanda Station～Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Tsukiji Station | 180JPY |
| Total | 840JPY | ||
Hello (Konnichiwa). My name is Masanori SUGANO. Most of my friends call me Bruce, so you can call me Bruce. It would be my pleasure to act as a guide for you as I have been a guide for over twenty years. I curate my tours to suit your quest for knowledge and make you laugh with Dad jokes as an ice breaker. I can add some of my experiences as seasoning since I’m a seasoned guide. I always gain a new perspective through my guests’ eyes, and that’s why I am passionate about my job.
You can create your own itinerary, and when we meet, you can let me know what things you want to see. I am very flexible and can go off the beaten track on your request.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to meeting you.
Thank you (Arigatou-gozaimasu).
Aug 25, 2026
T8432CMjeffr
6 hr Tokyo tour with Bruce
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The tour was…
Aug 25, 2026
T8432CMjeffr
6 hr Tokyo tour with Bruce
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
The tour was a fantastic experience. Bruce engaged with me early on to determine what we wanted to see and what would be most effective. He met us at the hotel, and let us to some amazing sites, and leading us through the Tokyo transit system. He showed us the customs which really made us feel to be part of the experience. Bruce took us to a lunch spot which was an amazing experience. This tour provided Tokyo experiences that we wouldn’t have been able to do in one day on our own.
Aug 5, 2026
Polly1818
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Bruce was the best !! 5⭐️
Bruce was our…
Aug 5, 2026
Polly1818
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Bruce was the best !! 5⭐️
Bruce was our guide for the day. He was amazing , kind, patient, interested and most interesting. He tailored his tour around our likes, avoided a lot of touristy type things ( though included some we would have been sorry to miss )
Aug 3, 2026
AJEDav
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide
Bruce Sagano was terrific! He was very…
Aug 3, 2026
AJEDav
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Great guide
Bruce Sagano was terrific! He was very patient, kind and knowledgeable. He took us to Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street and Tsujiki Fish Market. We ate at a great sushi restaurant in Tsujiki and we visited one of his favorite coffee shops. I highly recommend Bruce!
Jul 2, 2026
jamespmccormick
Tripadvisor review: The Best Family-Friendly Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Great Tokyo tour with Bruce!
We booked a 6 hour…
Jul 2, 2026
jamespmccormick
Tripadvisor review: The Best Family-Friendly Tokyo Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Great Tokyo tour with Bruce!
We booked a 6 hour Tokyo tour with Bruce Sugano and had a great experience! Bruce’s English is very good and he was flexible with us setting and changing the itinerary when we saw things we wanted to experience. We took the tour on our 2nd day in Japan and It was helpful to introduce us to the culture and help us gain an understanding of the city and some of its important sites. At the end of our tour, Bruce took us to one of his favorite sushi restaurants and introduced us to Japanese sushi! I would definitely recommend this tour!