Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

April, 2025

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

  • 1. 09:40 Arrival@Hilton Tokyo
  • 2. 09:50 Transfer∶Subway
  • 3. 10:35 Meet@Hotel Tokyo
  • 4. 10:35 Transfer∶Subway
  • 5. 11:15 Stay@Shinjuku Gyoen
  • 6. 12:20 Transfer∶Subway
  • 7. 12:50 Stay@Asakusa
  • 8. 13:40 Transfer∶Subway
  • 9. 14:20 Disband@Hotel Tokyo

Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like When the Hotel Changes at the Last Minute? A Licensed Guide's Report

I had been told the meeting point would be a hotel, but it seems the guests' travel agency forgot to inform [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) and me that they had changed hotels, and the guests were actually staying at a different hotel. After getting the guests' understanding that I would arrive about 30 minutes late, I rushed to the hotel. Upon arrival, I offered to extend the tour end time by about 30 minutes, but since they had another tour booked in the afternoon, I made an effort to shorten the time spent at each spot so I could bring them back to the hotel around 14:00.

The guests were visitors from North America. At the first place I took them, Shinjuku Gyoen, we could still enjoy the late-blooming cherry blossoms. Soon the azaleas will likely be in full bloom. In Asakusa I shortened the course considerably, but since I learned that one of the guests liked Hello Kitty, I made sure to pass in front of a character goods store. We left Asakusa just before 14:00 and managed to return to the hotel by 14:20 to end the tour.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1Free PassNishi-Shinjuku Station～Waseda Station900JPY
Section 2Free PassWaseda Station～Shinjuku-Sanchome Station0JPY
Section 3Free PassShinjuku-Sanchome Station～Asakusa Station0JPY
Section 4Free PassAsakusa Station～Waseda Station0JPY
Total900JPY

Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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