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
- 9:20 Hotel ～ 9:40 East Gardens ～ 11:00 Shibuya ～ 12:10 Asakusa ～ 13:20 Skytree ～ 13:40 Disband
What Can You See on a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on the East Gardens, Asakusa, and Skytree
The guests were visitors from Oceania. They were very easygoing. Since they were not particularly interested in history or religion, from partway through I kept my explanations brief and we walked around enjoying the scenery they liked. At the East Gardens, while listening to just a little bit of history involving samurai, shoguns, and emperors, they were very pleased with the photos I took for them. At Asakusa, we passed through the Nakamise shopping street while I briefly touched on the difference between Buddhism and Shinto and the history of Sensoji Temple. Even so, they were surprised by the manji symbol and asked why it was here. When I explained the reason, they seemed reassured. The manji really does come as a shock. After that, they mentioned we might walk to Skytree, and while a 30-minute walk can be enjoyable if there is time, considering that they had a 2:00 reservation, I suggested it would be better to take the subway, so we went to Oshiage. After that, I guided them to the ticket counter. I had them confirm the return station several times so they would not forget it, and I handed them a paper with directions on how to get to teamLab Borderless for their 5:00 reservation and how to return to the Hotel from there. As is the case with many guests, many people think that getting to Skytree is easy once they know the station. But the real challenge comes after arriving. It is crowded, the signs are hard to understand, and even reaching the ticket counter is difficult. I took them there while checking many times so they would not get lost. They were very grateful. I said goodbye while praying that they would make it safely back to the Hotel.
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 | Iidabashi～Otemachi | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Takebashi～Shibuya | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Shibuya～Asakusa | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Asakusa～Oshiage | 180JPY |
| Total | 830JPY | ||
Hello, I’m Hizuru.
I have a passion for sharing my knowledge and love for Japan with visitors from all over the world.
After teaching English and Japanese to Elementary school and Junior high school students for about 15
years, I got the National License of Guide and Interpreter in 2014 which allowed me to officially guide
tourists around Japan.
I have guided many tourists around Tokyo and its vicinities, helping them to discover the hidden gems of the
city and learn about its rich history and traditions.
Whether you’re interested in visiting historical landmarks, trying delicious Japanese cuisine, or experiencing
the vibrant pop culture scene, I can tailor a tour suit your interests.
My experience as a teacher greatly helped me in this role as I was able to efficiently communicate and engage
with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
I am dedicated to providing an unforgettable and insightful experience for all my guests.
I look forward to welcoming you to in and around Tokyo and sharing the wonders of Japan with you.
Oct 14, 2025
vanessajK6787GS
Great day out and about in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hizuru was an absolute delight.…
Oct 14, 2025
vanessajK6787GS
Great day out and about in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hizuru was an absolute delight. Her communication from the beginning was wonderful. She tailored the tour to the things I wanted to see. Her local knowledge was invaluable at the shrines, she is also a wonderful story teller. An important thing for me was to learn how to use the train system and she went above and beyond to help me understand how it all works. Which I am happy to say I navigated well once on my own. I would highly recommend Hizuru to anyone, she was a great companion for the day.
May 23, 2025
Inspire25413313092
Tokyo walking tour 2025
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sally did a great job putting together a…
May 23, 2025
Inspire25413313092
Tokyo walking tour 2025
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Sally did a great job putting together a program for us. She reached out early in the week to understand what we were looking for and experience.
I must admit it was nice to be guided through the subway system by a “professional”. That allows me to enjoy the experience and not worry about getting to the right train & connection.
Sally was very knowledgeable and my wife & I learned a lot about the history of Japan and Tokyo.
I would recommend Sally.
May 3, 2025
davidfZ3537PI
Great tour with Hizuru!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great private tour with Hizuru! Prior to the…
May 3, 2025
davidfZ3537PI
Great tour with Hizuru!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great private tour with Hizuru! Prior to the tour, she was in email contact with us to find out exactly what we wanted to do – then she arranged the perfect schedule. She met us in the lobby of our hotel, helped us navigate the Tokyo metro and took us to Gotokuji temple, Shinjuku crossing, the Azalea festival at Nezu shrine, then to Ginza (where she dropped us off for our dinner reservation). She gave us great information during the tour, good history lessons and cultural explanations, and was a pleasure to be around. At the end of the tour, she made sure we knew exactly how to navigate on our own back to our hotel. highly recommend the private tour, highly recommend our guide Hizuru!
Apr 17, 2025
Sharon_F
Sampling of everything in one day!
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great sampling of lots of different…
Apr 17, 2025
Sharon_F
Sampling of everything in one day!
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great sampling of lots of different places in the city! Did the palace garden, a Shinto shrine and Buhdist temple, along with Shibuya Crossing and Meiji Jungu! I appreciated the instructions at the religious sites and the history at the palace. The gardens were unbelievably beautiful this time of year! Great job on a good combination of places and info!