Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Tachi
September, 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) 9:00 Meet up @ Tokyu Stay Nishi-Shinjuku (5-9-8 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
- 2) 9:30 Tokyo Tower (*exterior only) → Zojoji Temple
- 3) 10:20 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace *Otemon Gate → Hirakawamon Gate
- 4) 11:30 Asakusa <Sensoji Temple・Nakamise Shopping Street>
- 5) 12:20 Akihabara
- 6) 13:00 Shibuya <Crossing・Hachiko Statue>
- 7) 13:10 Disband @ Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Can You Do a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour of Asakusa, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and Shibuya? A Licensed Guide's Report
[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private one-day tour of Tokyo for guests visiting from Oceania. In advance, the guests had requested a tour covering Senso-ji Temple, the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and ending in Shibuya. At the time we met, I presented a revised itinerary: since the direct route from Nishi-Shinjuku to the Imperial Palace East Gardens would take a long time, I suggested adding a stop to see Tokyo Tower (exterior only) and Zojo-ji Temple, and since the trip from Asakusa to Shibuya would also be long, I proposed a stop in Akihabara. The guests happily agreed, and the tour began. The guests were using a one-day combined pass for the Toei Subway and Metro. They mentioned they would travel by Shinkansen to Hiroshima the next day, stay in Kyoto for three days, then return to Tokyo before a long flight home. Chatting along the way, we moved efficiently through Tokyo Tower and Zojo-ji Temple, then the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Senso-ji Temple. They had visited Shinjuku's Kabukicho the previous evening and said the taiyaki was delicious. When I recommended Funawa sweets on Nakamise Street, they purchased ningyo-yaki and lemon manju. On the retro street, they bought a vanilla-filled melon bread from Asakusa Sakura. In Akihabara, we walked along a street lined with maid cafe staff and took in the townscape. From Shibuya Station, which was packed with passengers, we crossed the scramble intersection, and I showed them the way to the Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka branch that the guests were after, before parting with smiles.
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 | Nishi-shinjuku-gochome～Akabanebashi | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Onarimon～Otemachi (Tokyo) | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Takebashi～Asakusa | 290JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Asakusa～Suehirocho (Tokyo) | 180JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Akihabara～Shibuya | 210JPY |
| Total | 1,080JPY | ||
Hi! I’m a local guide in Tokyo and have been working as a licensed tour guide for almost 10 years. I love helping guests discover the “real Japan” beyond the guidebooks. I enjoy showing guests both famous sights and places that many tourists miss. My tours are based on your interests and can include not only famous sightseeing spots, but also local neighborhoods, culture, history, and everyday life in Japan. I also help guests enjoy Japanese cultural activities and make communication easier. If you’d like vegan or gluten-free meals, let me help you find suitable restaurants in Tokyo. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please feel free to let me know in advance. I look forward to showing you around Tokyo!
Jun 19, 2026
Daniel_O
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
10/10 would do again!
Our guide, Tachi was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and…
Jun 19, 2026
Daniel_O
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
10/10 would do again!
Our guide, Tachi was incredibly accommodating, friendly, and patient with our group. Their
expertise made our vacation fun, educational, and stress-free!
May 24, 2026
Meander63637687943
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour guide Tachi is the best!
A most enjoyable and…
May 24, 2026
Meander63637687943
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Japanese Garden Lover’s Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour guide Tachi is the best!
A most enjoyable and personalized tour . Tachi was most professional and knowledgeable.
She provided very very thorough historical information about the 4 gardens we visited. I
would highly recommend her!
May 19, 2026
Jai_K
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I would definitely…
I would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide Tachi…
May 19, 2026
Jai_K
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I would definitely…
I would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide Tachi was so helpful in showing us around and answering all our questions. It was a great idea to do this on the first day since we covered most of the popular cultural sights and areas with her leaving the ret of our days for other specific interests.
May 5, 2026
Gary33556
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of the highlights of Tokyo
Tachi was our guide. What…
May 5, 2026
Gary33556
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of the highlights of Tokyo
Tachi was our guide. What a wonderful experience. She communicated very effectively before our departure to plan a very nice tour around the city. On the day of departure, it was raining very heavily in Tokyo and we considered rescheduling, but went ahead anyway. She met us at our hotel just as planned and set out on a very nice tour that visited all the sites we wanted to see. We used the subway system to move about the city. We we very happy with the tour and would book with her again in the future if we return to Tokyo. Hint: download PASMO to your phone to pay for subway rides.