Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Lance
November, 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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 13.00 Hotel－13.10～14.10 Imperial Palace East Gardens－14:40～15.45 Asakusa－16.15 Meiji Shrine－17.00 Meiji Jingu Gaien
What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour of the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Asakusa, and Meiji Shrine Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors currently based in the Middle East. Ahead of the tour they had expressed a wish to eat sushi in Shibuya after finishing at Meiji Shrine, so I made a reservation at a sushi restaurant in advance.
At the Hyakunin-bansho (Hundred Guards' Barracks) in the East Gardens, I explained that "20 of the guards were ninja," which prompted the question, "Who was stronger, the samurai or the ninja?" In Asakusa, I was also asked a difficult question: "Why is Daikokuten black in color?" On the spot I answered that "it cannot be said in one way" and that "it originally came from India, where the color was black from the beginning." After the tour, based on what I researched online, I replied by email: "In the Edo period ninja were not permitted to carry swords, so in a one-on-one fight I think the samurai would have won, but a ninja using the art of creating duplicates of oneself might have been able to overwhelm a samurai." I also explained, "Daikokuten means 'the great black deity,' and in ancient India black represented 'greatness' and 'protection against evil.'" I received a reply saying "Great thanks."
In the East Gardens we went from the Otemon Gate to the castle keep base, then from Shiomizaka slope through the Ninomaru Garden and out via the Hirakawamon Gate. By that point the guests seemed quite tired. The Ninomaru Garden and Asakusa appeared to be very much enjoyed, but at the final stop, Meiji Shrine, there was a pitfall (due to my insufficient checking). Starting this month, the closing time was moved 30 minutes earlier, and the shrine closed at 16:10, five minutes before our arrival.
We hurried back to the Meiji Jingu Gaien area and switched to a stroll along the ginkgo tree-lined avenue. When I said, "I'm sorry it's just a walking path," the guests warmly replied, "The atmosphere is very nice." An illumination event called "Tokyo Lights" was about to be held at the Gaien, but the guests did not go in.
While sharing a taxi to Shibuya, the guests mentioned that they would revisit Meiji Shrine on their own on Thursday, so I decided to guide them free of charge on Thursday. I will be very careful from now on.
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 | Takebashi～Asakusa | 209JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Asakusa～Meiji-jingumae | 252JPY |
| Total | 461JPY | ||
I have been working as a tour guide once a week since the autumein 2024. I got 5 star ratings from 32 individuals or groups succesively.
Previously, I have been working with grain business for 43 years. I was sent to a subsidiary office in New Orleans for three years.
I love Japanese history, culture and nature and want as many viaitors as possible to know the good and beautiful things about Japan. There’s a Zen teaching that I hold dear. That is ‘Ichi-go ichie’, which means ’Treasure every encounter as it may not come again’. Looking forward to see you!
Jul 4, 2026
317roxaneh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great time in Tokyo!
We had a great day with Lance! He…
Jul 4, 2026
317roxaneh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great time in Tokyo!
We had a great day with Lance! He had a good sense of humor and was so kind to meet us at our Air BnB, which was a bit out of the way. He gave us a great crash course on Japanese history before heading out on our adventure around Tokyo, visiting shrines, markets, a museum and garden. It was so helpful to have him with us navigating the train system, and he took us to an amazing sushi place for a lovely lunch. All in all, it was really fun and we were able to better appreciate the places we visited with him providing information and history along the way. Would definitely recommend!…
Jul 1, 2026
Voyager795644
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo private family tour
Our family of 5 (kids age 8, 10,…
Jul 1, 2026
Voyager795644
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo private family tour
Our family of 5 (kids age 8, 10, 12) had a fantastic experience with Lance as a tour guide on our full day Tokyo tour. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very flexible with kids on the trip. We highly recommend him!
Jun 26, 2026
Leslie_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Market, temples, Nature, and a great guide
This tour is amazing and…
Jun 26, 2026
Leslie_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Market, temples, Nature, and a great guide
This tour is amazing and Lance was such a great guide. my mother is handicapped and Lance researched the best ways to use the train stations always found us an elevator or ramp. He knew so much about the Japanese culture and history. His English was very strong and easily understood. The temples and markets were beautiful. Two things that really made Lance stand out as a great guide was when we went to the offering area at one of the temples Lance didn’t want us to miss out because we didn’t have a coin so he provided on for each of us. The second thing was I asked a question that he wasn’t sure the answer to, but after the tour I was surprised to see a message from Lance answering my question. He did not gain anything from this I had already paid and tipped him it really just reflected how amazing and dedicated to his job Lance was.thank you Lance for making our tour of Japan so special.
Jun 17, 2026
JKing275
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo
Our guide, Lance was exceptional! He immediately contacted me…
Jun 17, 2026
JKing275
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo
Our guide, Lance was exceptional! He immediately contacted me after I booked, guiding me through the options. Several days before the tour, rain was in the forecast. Lance revised our options to include mostly indoor tours. He also requested our likes and dislikes prior to picking a lunch spot.
Lance was very knowledgeable about Japan’s history. We appreciated his explanations at each tour site. Descriptions were a nice overview without being overly detailed. Lance’s organization and timing for each stop was spot on and his English was excellent.
It was a pleasure to spend the day with Lance. He epitomized the Japanese culture with his calmness, true kindness and respect for all!