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 place: The Royal Park Canvas – Ginza Corridor
- 10:10 Departure: Ginza Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 10:30 Arrive at Asakusa Station
- Asakusa Sensoji Temple
- Nakamise Shopping Street
- Asakusa Shrine
- 11:15 Departure from Asakusa Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 11:30 Suehirocho Station
- Akihabara Akihabara Electric Town
- 12:00 Departure from Akihabara Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- 12:20 Arrive at Hibiya Station
- Hibiya Tokyo Midtown Hibiya
- Lunch: Tsukiji Sushisei Hibiya Chanter Branch
- 13:;30 Departure from Hibiya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Omotesando Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 14:00 Arrive at Shibuya Station
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- Hachiko Statue
- 14:30 Shibuya Station
- (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
- 15:00 Arrive at Ginza Station
- 15:00 Disband: Ginza Station
What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Akihabara, and Shibuya
The guests were a group visiting Japan from Oceania. It was everyone's first visit to Japan. Their main purpose for visiting Japan was to take part in a taekwondo competition in Nagoya. They stayed in Japan for a total of two weeks. After arriving at Narita Airport, they went to Nagoya, then Osaka, and further visited Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, and today was their final day in Japan. Everyone seemed a little tired.
We managed to avoid the rain, but the tour took place in fairly hot and humid weather.
First, we went from Ginza Station to Asakusa. I explained about "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto," and about "omikuji fortune slips" and "omamori charms." There were questions such as "What kind of teaching is Buddhism?" and "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" At Asakusa Shrine, there was also a question: "How are Shinto and Buddhism different?"
After that, at the guests' request, we went to Akihabara. They purchased Pokemon goods and other items. There was a question about "maid cafes."
Since there was a request to "have sushi for lunch," we went to a sushi restaurant in Hibiya. One comment was: "In Western countries, restaurants are located where they are easy to see from the street, but in Tokyo, for some reason, they are inside buildings where they can't be seen from the main street."
From here, we moved to Shibuya. Only the younger members of the group crossed the scramble crossing, while the others filmed video from the Keio Line platform. There was a question: "Why do so many people gather here at the scramble crossing?"
There were also comments such as: "The city is clean and there is no litter on the ground," "There are no trash cans on the streets," "The public toilets are clean and pleasant," and "The inside of the subway is quiet, clean, and reassuring."
I saw them off at Ginza Station, 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 | Subway | Ginza Station～Asakusa Station | 209JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Asakusa Station～Suehirocho Station | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Akihabara Station～Hibiya Station | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Hibiya Station～Shibuya Station | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Shibuya Station～Ginza Station | 209JPY |
| Total | 952JPY | ||
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.