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 Meet at the hotel
- 10:30 Arrive at Meiji Shrine
- 11:30 Depart from Meiji Shrine
- 11:50 Arrive at the Imperial Palace
- 12:50 Depart from the Imperial Palace
- 13:20 Arrive at Asakusa
- 14:25 Tour ends at Asakusa
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:00 at hotel and ended at 14:25. The day ran to 4 hours and 25 minutes from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine at 10:30, the Imperial Palace at 11:50 and Asakusa at 13:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Harajuku by train (146JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Otemachi by subway (209JPY); Otemachi to Asakusa by subway (178JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 533JPY per person.
What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa
The guests were a group visiting from the Middle East. They mentioned that the members of the group now live in different places, so they were happy to be able to come together again on this trip. As planned in advance, we visited Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. On the subway, they were very impressed by how clean and convenient it was. At each spot, the guests were very interested in history and asked many questions about samurai, shoguns, and the imperial family. The guests were also very much looking forward to shopping and asked me about recommended cosmetics shops and sweets shops. We finished with a late lunch, where I guided them to an okonomiyaki restaurant, and the tour ended in Asakusa.
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 | Shinjuku～Harajuku | 146JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Otemachi | 209JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi～Asakusa | 178JPY |
| Total | 533JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel at 10:00, and the tour finished at Tour ends at Asakusa at 14:25.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours and 25 minutes in total, from 10:00 to 14:25.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 533JPY per person across 3 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?
Michi 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.
Hello.
Thank you for choosing Japan as your travel destination.
I am Michi.
It has been over 40 years since I was born and raised in Tokyo.
And I live with my husband and two children.
I love history,Japanese gardens,cooking,traveling,and more recently,camping.
I have been working as a National Licensed Guide since 2016.
Because of my husband’s job,I lived in Western part of Japan from 2012 to 2017 and spent nearly two years working as a guide in Kyoto.
Afterward,I moved back to Tokyo,my hometown,and continued my work.
I am truly passionate about my work as a tour guide and am very proud of it.
Also,I am flexible and happy to adjust to your needs.
I am looking forward to sharing lots of wonderful discoveries with you.
Michi
Sep 21, 2025
Q7599JLstellav
Tokyo Walking tour with Michi
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful guided tour with Michi
Couldn’t ask…
Sep 21, 2025
Q7599JLstellav
Tokyo Walking tour with Michi
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful guided tour with Michi
Couldn’t ask for more. Pace was good. We covered a lot of ground in this tour.
Best way is to have a guide. Took the stress out of knowing where to go. Also gave us tips on how to get around.
We were surprised with a small gift at the end of our tour. Very sweet
Jun 25, 2025
R9003QBcindyk
Michi-san is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Michi-san was our amazing guide. The communication for…
Jun 25, 2025
R9003QBcindyk
Michi-san is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Michi-san was our amazing guide. The communication for planning the tour was great. She met us at our hotel and we were off for our adventure. We did our tour the first full day we were in Tokyo, so she taught us how to navigate the subway, use our Suica card for the vending machines, and much more. We went to the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. Along the way we stopped at several other well known areas which was very fun and interesting. We appreciate all the historical information she shared with us. She was very knowledgeable.
Thank you very much Michi-san for making this trip memorable! Highly recommend this tour.
May 31, 2025
Molly_G
Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
This was…
May 31, 2025
Molly_G
Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
This was the perfect tour to end our Japan trip! Michi personalized our itinerary and was flexible in adjusting sights to include those we missed at the beginning of our journey. Michi was knowledgeable about the history and culture of the region. She also pointed out unique details about the Imperial Palace/family, gardens, shrines, fish market, and local shops. Michi even helped me buy a few gifts for myself and family members to remember our amazing adventures in Japan. Highly recommend this private tour and Michi as your guide!
May 12, 2025
Anonymous
We had the absolute…
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had the absolute pleasure of spending the…
May 12, 2025
Anonymous
We had the absolute…
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had the absolute pleasure of spending the day with Michi, our private guide in Tokyo, and I can’t recommend her enough. She was warm, knowledgeable, and incredibly thoughtful throughout our entire tour.
Michi didn’t just show us the sights—she brought them to life with stories, history, and cultural insights we never would have gotten on our own. She gave us space to take it all in, answered every question with care, and made the entire day feel seamless and personal.
One of the highlights was being guided through both a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple, where Michi explained the differences in tradition and meaning so beautifully. She even guided us through a smoke cleansing ritual and taught us how to properly offer a prayer.
If you’re visiting Tokyo and want a truly meaningful and enriching experience, book a day with Michi. It was a day we’ll never forget.
※JGA-T89816134でご案内いただいたゲスト様からのレビューと思われます。