Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

July, 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.

Tour Itinerary

  • 1. 08:50 Meet up@Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
  • 2. 09:10 Travel∶Train
  • 3. 09:30 Stay@Shibuya Scramble Crossing
  • 4. 09:40 Travel∶Train
  • 5. 09:45 Stay@Meiji Shrine
  • 6. 10:30 Stay@Takeshita Street
  • 7. 10:50 Travel∶Train
  • 8. 11:20 Stay@Akihabara
  • 9. 12:30 Lunch@Gyoza Shokudo Tsurukame
  • 10. 13:10 Travel∶Train
  • 11. 13:40 Disband@JR Shinjuku Station East Exit Midori no Madoguchi

Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour of Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

I visited the meeting-point Hotel for the first time in a while, but I found that access to the lobby was now restricted to hotel guests only. In the future, it might be better to meet near the elevator hall on the first floor here instead. The guests did not have a Suica card, but for this particular itinerary it was more economical to purchase individual tickets, so I assisted them at the ticket machines in the station. Since it looked like there would be time to spare with only the originally requested Shibuya and Harajuku areas, I had added Akihabara to the itinerary as well, and this proved to be a good decision as one of the guests was a fan of anime. After shopping in Akihabara there was still a little time left, so we had lunch together, and since the guests wished to purchase tickets for a later trip, I took them to the JR ticket office at Shinjuku Station before we parted ways.

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShinjuku～Shibuya170JPY
Section 2TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
Section 3TrainHarajuku～Akihabara180JPY
Section 4TrainAkihabara～Shinjuku180JPY
Total680JPY

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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