Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Kiyo

What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like with a Licensed Guide? A JGA Guide's Report

Rain had been a concern, but although there was a light sprinkle at one point, it stayed mostly cloudy. Since the guests were coming from a hotel in the Maihama area, I had considered meeting inside Tokyo Station, but as they do not usually ride trains in daily life, they felt unsure about whether they could get to Tokyo Station on their own, so they decided to come by taxi. I waited at the taxi drop-off area and we met without any trouble.

One of the guests loved taking photos and videos and enjoyed filming at each location. Since I had heard that one of the guests was a big fan of Hello Kitty, I guided the group to the Kitty corner at Tokyo Tower, where they purchased items such as a bag and an umbrella and started using them right away.

At the Shibuya scramble crossing, one of the guests remarked that it looked like a big city overseas. After that we walked from Shibuya to Harajuku, and by the time we arrived in Harajuku, one of the guests had grown tired and a little bored, so I made a reservation at a mini pig cafe. Since there were about 20 minutes until the reservation time, we rested on a bench in front of the Uniqlo in Harajuku, then I took the group to the mini pig cafe, confirmed their check-in was complete, and we parted ways. One of the guests had mentioned wanting to purchase original custom sneakers at Onitsuka Tiger, but since the group did not seem able to walk that far, I sent the location by smartphone with an explanation to finish up. They plan to visit Disney the next day, Mount Fuji the day after, and then travel to Osaka.

[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. Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

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Tour Report by Kiyo

Hi! My name is Kiyo Hirose, a nationally licensed guide in Tokyo.
I was born and raised in Kobe, a small city in Western Japan, near Osaka and Kyoto. After I lived in several different regions, I have been in Tokyo since 2019. My experiences across Japan’s diverse regions allowed me to appreciate the cultural and regional diversity of Japan.
Through the period of 2yrs paid guide and 12 years volunteer guide, I have supported a wide range of travelers, from individuals to the groups. Now I’m providing guiding, interpretation, escorting, and transfer assistance. Every time, I try to provide more than just information; not only to introduce historic sites, but also to share the everyday realities and cultural layers of Japan.
I’m looking forward to making your visit both enjoyable and deeply memorable!

**When you see this message, please contact me via E-mail or WhatsApp.
**If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask me before the tour!