Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji & Hamarikyu — Guide Kay
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
- Depart at 10:00 Meet the guest at the lobby of The Westin Tokyo, Ebisu
- 10:30-11:15 (45M) Meiji Shrine
- 11:25-11:45 (20M) Shibuya Scramble Crossing
- 12:10-13:20 (70M) Nihonbashi
- 13:50-14:20 (30M) Hamarikyu
- 14:55 See off at Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in (45M) Meiji Shrine at 10:30, (20M) Shibuya Scramble Crossing at 11:25, (70M) Nihonbashi at 12:10, (30M) Hamarikyu at 13:50 and See off at Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station at 14:55.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ebisu to Harajuku by train (150JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (150JPY); Shibuya to Mitsukoshimae by train (210JPY); Mitsukoshimae-Kiyosumi-shirakawa to Shiodome by train (290JPY); Shiodome-Aoyama-itchome to Shibuya by train (290JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,090JPY per person.
What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, and Nihonbashi
During our advance communication through a messaging app, the guests shared that they had already seen Ginza, Toyosu, Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Nezu, and Ueno, so I proposed the above schedule, to which they replied, "Perfect. Thank you."
At Meiji Shrine, the Niinamesai harvest festival happened to be taking place, and the guests were delighted by the displays of vegetables and rice. In addition to explaining the shrine, the chrysanthemum imperial crest, sake, wine, and the manner of worship, I also answered their questions about the chrysanthemum displays and the children dressed for Shichi-Go-San. They purchased various omamori charms as souvenirs.
The Shibuya Crossing was a request from the guests, so they crossed diagonally while recording video on their smartphone, and also filmed from the 2nd floor of Mark City on the way to transferring to the Ginza Line. When I asked whether they were satisfied, they replied, "Yes!"
For Nihonbashi, we got off at Mitsukoshimae and visited the lion statues → the Mitsukoshi department store food hall → the Mitsukoshi cosmetics counter at the guests' request, where they bought Cle de Peau cleansing products → Kiya → Ninben → Hakuza Nihonbashi → Yamamoto Noriten → the Nihonbashi bridge. I explained each spot, and having heard the request that "we stayed two nights at a hotel in Ginza but did no shopping, so we would like to shop and buy Japanese cosmetics," I guided them to products at the cosmetics counter that matched their wishes.
At Hama-rikyu Gardens, I explained that it was a falconry ground for the Tokugawa shoguns and that the four teahouses have been restored largely to their original form. The cosmos flowers were still in full bloom, and the conversation touched a little on global warming.
At Hama-rikyu Gardens, the final stop, I took photos in various poses at the guests' request.
As for the parting place, rather than the hotel, they wanted to go to a beef restaurant in Shibuya, so I saw them off at the Hachiko exit near the restaurant.
The guests were based in North America and accustomed to crowds, which made guiding them easy. They also asked various general questions, such as recommended Japanese-made bags and Japan's electoral system, and I responded to the best of my ability. In line with their initial wishes, I believe they were pleased with the combination of traditional culture and fun experiences such as the Shibuya Crossing.
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 | Ebisu～Harajuku | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 150JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shibuya～Mitsukoshimae | 210JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Mitsukoshimae-Kiyosumi-shirakawa～Shiodome | 290JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Shiodome-Aoyama-itchome～Shibuya | 290JPY |
| Total | 1,090JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited (45M) Meiji Shrine, (20M) Shibuya Scramble Crossing, (70M) Nihonbashi, (30M) Hamarikyu and See off at Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,090JPY per person across 5 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Kay is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Dear guests,
My name is Keiko. Kay, for short. I’m a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter. Nice to meet you!
I’m from Tokyo and I love my country. I’d be delighted to welcome you and show you around Japan, help make your stay a lot of fun, and help you better understand Japanese culture and society. Count on me to guide you to major tourist spots anywhere in Tokyo and nearby areas including Kamakura, Yokohama, Hakone and Nikko. If you would like to visit less popular and quiet places, I’ll take you to somewhere special depending on your interests!
To give you an idea of who I am as a person, many people say I’m a well-rounded person and easy to talk to.
I used to work in the automotive industry in the past and lived in Germany with my family for seven years. Now I’m working as a guide interpreter and a private English teacher for middle and high school students. Throughout all these experiences, I have gotten along with a lot of people from multiple countries, such as Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, Thailand, China, Korea, and the USA. I’m open to new ideas and welcome differences. In my guiding work, as well as in my teaching job, I have received extremely good reviews from my guests, for which I feel delighted and thankful. Their smiles are my treasure.
Please let me tell you a little about my personal history. I left the automobile industry to raise my two daughters. I completely devoted myself to taking care of them. My husband was then transferred to Dusseldorf, Germany, where we had a great time. After returning to Japan, I started over my work as an English teacher at a preparatory school. I received so many nominations from students and their parents that I felt confident to go independent after several years. I also started working as a tour guide, which gives me great pleasure.
Now, please let me talk about my interests.
I’ve got two more daughters: they’re cats! Although they can be trouble, I care for them deeply.
As for my hobbies, I’m enthusiastic about going on trips myself. I like going somewhere I’ve never been. It’s like opening a new door, and some nice small talk with local people enhances the quality of my trips. I’m a museum goer and a member of a choir. I love reading and watching plays in theaters: musicals, operas, Japanese Noh and Kabuki performances.
Before the pandemic, I visited New York by myself a few times, where I enjoyed museums and theaters. I also travel locally sometimes, like to western Japan. I know a good local guide is very helpful for going to remote places.
Japan my seem like an exotic country for you, but I’ll be here to help you. Local Japanese cuisine is a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage, and even International cuisines are at a very high level here. I bet you’ll savor delicious food in Japan.
I’m looking forward to seeing you very soon! Hope you’ll have a great time here!