Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Lance
November, 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
- 900 Hotel Okura, 930-1040 Tsukiji, 1050-1220 Kiyosumi Garden, Edo Fukagawa Museum, 1240-1330 Asakusa
Title: What Is a Private Family Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Kiyosumi Garden, and Asakusa
The guests were a group visiting from North America, including a young child. The child kindly went into the elevator first and pressed the "open" button for everyone.
At Tsukiji, the group bought souvenirs for friends, including three kitchen knives worth 17,000 yen at one shop, as well as several pieces of pottery such as chopstick rests at another.
At Namiyoke Shrine, the group purchased a lion-head charm and a wave-pattern good-luck charm. I was told the omikuji fortunes here never include the "bad luck" result. The group drew "great blessing," "middle blessing," and "small blessing." The child asked me to read the characters written inside the mouth of the lion-head charm. The letters were too small to read, so I took a photo and enlarged it, and found the vertical writing that read "Namiyoke Shrine."
At Kiyosumi Garden, one of the guests asked about the straw wrapping around the pine trees, and I shared what I had learned in my training: that pests hibernate inside the straw, which is then burned. The child was delighted to see ducks, turtles, and a grey heron, and skillfully filmed them and showed me the video. I told them, "You could become a YouTuber in the future." The child asked me, "Mr. Lance, is this your first day as a guide?" and I replied, "Why do you think so? Do I look that young?"
At the Fukagawa Edo Museum, one of the guests fluently explained the Japanese panels to the child in English, so I asked in surprise, "Can you read Japanese?" — but it turned out they were reading the English explanation written just below at an angle.
In Asakusa, the child bought a sword ornament and a tengu mask. When asked "What is this?" I answered "a monster." Later I looked it up and explained that it has supernatural powers, kidnaps children, and either eats them or trains them to become its successor. On the approach to Senso-ji Temple, I explained that the White Heron Dance, the Seven Lucky Gods Dance, and the Golden Dragon Dance depicted in the historical picture scrolls are performed on festival days, and one of the guests asked me "When are the festivals?" They are held on November 3rd, February 3rd, and the 18th of March and October, respectively.
The group had a photo studio booked at 2:00 to take commemorative pictures in traditional kimono. They planned to have a light lunch at a fast-food restaurant before heading there, so we parted ways on Kannon-dori Street.
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 | Toranomon Hills～Tsukiji | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Tsukiji Market～Kiyosumi-shirakawa | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Kiyosumi-shirakawa～Asakusa | 290JPY |
| Total | 690JPY | ||
I have been working as a tour guide once a week since the autumein 2024. I got 5 star ratings from 32 individuals or groups succesively.
Previously, I have been working with grain business for 43 years. I was sent to a subsidiary office in New Orleans for three years.
I love Japanese history, culture and nature and want as many viaitors as possible to know the good and beautiful things about Japan. There’s a Zen teaching that I hold dear. That is ‘Ichi-go ichie’, which means ’Treasure every encounter as it may not come again’. Looking forward to see you!
Jul 4, 2026
317roxaneh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great time in Tokyo!
We had a great day with Lance! He…
Jul 4, 2026
317roxaneh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great time in Tokyo!
We had a great day with Lance! He had a good sense of humor and was so kind to meet us at our Air BnB, which was a bit out of the way. He gave us a great crash course on Japanese history before heading out on our adventure around Tokyo, visiting shrines, markets, a museum and garden. It was so helpful to have him with us navigating the train system, and he took us to an amazing sushi place for a lovely lunch. All in all, it was really fun and we were able to better appreciate the places we visited with him providing information and history along the way. Would definitely recommend!…
Jul 1, 2026
Voyager795644
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo private family tour
Our family of 5 (kids age 8, 10,…
Jul 1, 2026
Voyager795644
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo private family tour
Our family of 5 (kids age 8, 10, 12) had a fantastic experience with Lance as a tour guide on our full day Tokyo tour. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and very flexible with kids on the trip. We highly recommend him!
Jun 26, 2026
Leslie_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Market, temples, Nature, and a great guide
This tour is amazing and…
Jun 26, 2026
Leslie_B
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Market, temples, Nature, and a great guide
This tour is amazing and Lance was such a great guide. my mother is handicapped and Lance researched the best ways to use the train stations always found us an elevator or ramp. He knew so much about the Japanese culture and history. His English was very strong and easily understood. The temples and markets were beautiful. Two things that really made Lance stand out as a great guide was when we went to the offering area at one of the temples Lance didn’t want us to miss out because we didn’t have a coin so he provided on for each of us. The second thing was I asked a question that he wasn’t sure the answer to, but after the tour I was surprised to see a message from Lance answering my question. He did not gain anything from this I had already paid and tipped him it really just reflected how amazing and dedicated to his job Lance was.thank you Lance for making our tour of Japan so special.
Jun 17, 2026
JKing275
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo
Our guide, Lance was exceptional! He immediately contacted me…
Jun 17, 2026
JKing275
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo
Our guide, Lance was exceptional! He immediately contacted me after I booked, guiding me through the options. Several days before the tour, rain was in the forecast. Lance revised our options to include mostly indoor tours. He also requested our likes and dislikes prior to picking a lunch spot.
Lance was very knowledgeable about Japan’s history. We appreciated his explanations at each tour site. Descriptions were a nice overview without being overly detailed. Lance’s organization and timing for each stop was spot on and his English was excellent.
It was a pleasure to spend the day with Lance. He epitomized the Japanese culture with his calmness, true kindness and respect for all!