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
- 9:00 meet hyatt Regency Tokyo
- 9:30 Chidorigafuchi
- 10:15 Imperial Palace East Garden
- 11:15 Asakusa Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise
- 12:45 Skytree
- 14:10 Ueno Park
- 15:00 Disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 9:00 at hyatt Regency Tokyo and ended at 15:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Chidorigafuchi at 9:30, Imperial Palace East Garden at 10:15, Asakusa Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise at 11:15, Skytree at 12:45 and Ueno Park at 14:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tochomae to Hanzomon by subway (290JPY); Kudanshita to Takebashi by subway (180JPY); Otemachi to Asakusa by subway (180JPY); Asakusa to Skytree Station by train (160JPY); Skytree Station to Asakusa by train (160JPY); Asakusa to Ueno by subway (180JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,150JPY per person.
What Cherry Blossom Spots Can You See on a Private Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. When I asked if they would like to see cherry blossoms, they said yes, so I guided them to famous cherry blossom spots. Chidorigafuchi was only about 30 percent in bloom, but there were fully blooming cherry blossoms throughout the Imperial Palace grounds, and I took many photos of the guests in front of the cherry trees. They had wanted to eat dango at Nakamise in Asakusa, and were very pleased to do so. For the Sumida walk they had hoped to take on foot, they observed the state of the cherry blossoms from the train and seemed satisfied. Their Skytree reservation was at 1:00, but since the time was extended, we finished by going to see the cherry blossoms at Ueno Park. Overall the cherry blossoms were about 40 percent in bloom, but because of the cherry blossom festival there were many food stalls, so we enjoyed a late lunch with beer and yakisoba before parting 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 | Tochomae～Hanzomon | 290JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Kudanshita～Takebashi | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Asakusa～Skytree Station | 160JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Skytree Station～Asakusa | 160JPY |
| Section 6 | Subway | Asakusa～Ueno | 180JPY |
| Total | 1,150JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hyatt Regency Tokyo at 9:00, and the tour finished at at 15:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 9:00 to 15:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Chidorigafuchi, Imperial Palace East Garden, Asakusa Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise, Skytree and Ueno Park.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,150JPY per person across 6 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?
Tarsha 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 !
I’m Tarsha, your tour guide.
I was born and brought up in Tokyo, now live in Yokohama, next to Kamakura.
I like music, singing, especially dancing, and am the master of Japanese traditional dance.
It’s my pleasure to be able to show you the highlights of Tokyo, my hometown.
I’d like to introduce Japanese culture with correct information during our tour,
and would be happy if my guide will help you to understand Japanese mentality a little better.
I’ll try to make our tour the best it can be, so let’s enjoy and explore Japan together !
I’m looking forward to seeing you !
May 19, 2025
Jonathan_S
Excellent Private Tour!
Viator review: Kamakura Private Tour from Yokohama with Guide and Vehicle
Our driver (Abe) and guide (Tarsha) were…
May 19, 2025
Jonathan_S
Excellent Private Tour!
Viator review: Kamakura Private Tour from Yokohama with Guide and Vehicle
Our driver (Abe) and guide (Tarsha) were excellent companions. We were able to see a lot of cultural points of interest, and Tarsha routinely provided us with tidbits of history and general facts. It was also great to have lunch with her and learn more about the locals and traditions. Highly recommended!
Apr 22, 2025
H6226ZFelisat
Muy buena experiencia!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fue una experiencia súper linda! Tarsha, nuestra guía, una…
Apr 22, 2025
H6226ZFelisat
Muy buena experiencia!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fue una experiencia súper linda! Tarsha, nuestra guía, una persona super agradable! Muy
preparada para explicarnos sobre los lugares a los que nos llevó a visitar. Definitivamente
la recomendamos
2025年4月22日
H6226ZFelisat
とても良い体験でした！
Tripadvisorレビュー:
とても素敵な体験でした！
私たちのガイド、Tarshaさんはとても感じの良い方でした。
訪れた場所についてもしっかりと説明してくれて、知識も豊富でした。
間違いなくおすすめします！
Mar 23, 2025
629leezak
Tokyo 4 Hour Tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tarsha was an incredibly kind and insightful tour…
Mar 23, 2025
629leezak
Tokyo 4 Hour Tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tarsha was an incredibly kind and insightful tour guide. We enjoyed our day with her
through Tokyo and learning about all the different shrines and temples. We would highly
recommend and can’t wait to come back!!
Oct 6, 2024
FloridaKeywest
Tarsha was FANTASTIC!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tarsha was absolutely FANTASTIC on our tour of Tokyo…
Oct 6, 2024
FloridaKeywest
Tarsha was FANTASTIC!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tarsha was absolutely FANTASTIC on our tour of Tokyo today. We saw an incredible array of sites in one day, had a great lunch and enjoyed her company very much. She also taught us about Tokyo mass transit and some of the other cities on our itinerary. We would recommend her to anyone on a first-time trip to Tokyo!!!