Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

May, 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. 09:45 Meet up @ Hilton Tokyo Odaiba
  • 2. 09:50 Travel: Train
  • 3. 10:30 Stay @ Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit
  • 4. 10:35 Travel: Train
  • 5. 11:05 Stay @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
  • 6. 11:20 Travel: Train
  • 7. 11:30 Stay @ Takeshita Street
  • 8. 12:20 Travel: Train
  • 9. 13:05 Lunch @ Tsurukame
  • 10. 13:35 Stay @ Akihabara
  • 11. 14:20 Travel: Train
  • 12. 14:55 Disband @ Hilton Tokyo Odaiba

Can You Do a Private Shopping-Focused Day Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report

This was a job that initially involved a lot of anxiety because the meeting point was not clear, but once we were able to make contact through a messaging app, everything went smoothly all the way to the end. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures.

The guests were a group, and since there was a request to take them to places they liked, I planned a course centered mainly on shopping. However, in line with a last-minute request from the group to check the meeting point for the next day's Mount Fuji tour, I first took them to the dome at the Marunouchi North Exit of Tokyo Station. For this tour, we mainly used the JR lines.

The group did some shopping on Takeshita Street and at the Radio Kaikan in Akihabara, and as they were fond of anime, we spent a little more time at the Radio Kaikan. Since the itinerary involved many transfers, I saw them all the way to the end so they would not get confused, and we parted ways near the Hotel.

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainDaiba Station～Shimbashi Station330JPY
Section 2TrainShimbashi Station～Tokyo Station150JPY
Section 3TrainTokyo Station～Shibuya Station210JPY
Section 4TrainShibuya Station～Harajuku Station150JPY
Section 5TrainHarajuku Station～Akihabara Station180JPY
Section 6TrainAkihabara Station～Shimbashi Station170JPY
Section 7TrainShimbashi Station～Daiba Station330JPY
Total1,520JPY

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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