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
- 9:00 Depart from hotel (Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower)
- 9:40 Arrive at Asakusa
- 11:00 Arrive at Tokyo Skytree
- 12:10 Arrive at Imperial Palace
- 13:10 Arrive at teamLab Planets TOKYO Shin-Toyosu
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Asakusa at 9:40, Tokyo Skytree at 11:00, Imperial Palace at 12:10 and teamLab Planets TOKYO Shin-Toyosu at 13:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Higashi-Shinjuku to Kuramae by subway (220JPY); Asakusa to Tokyo Skytree by train (160JPY); Oshiage to Otemachi (Tokyo) by subway (210JPY); Sakuradamon to Yurakucho by subway (180JPY); Yurakucho to Shimbashi by train (150JPY); Shimbashi to Shin-Toyosu by train (390JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,310JPY per person.
What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Skytree, and teamLab Planets
The guests were a group visiting from Europe. As arranged in advance, the plan was to leisurely visit Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree in that order. After touring Tokyo Skytree, it looked like there would be some extra time, so we decided to visit the Imperial Palace before heading to the final destination, teamLab Planets TOKYO. In Asakusa, we walked through Nakamise and visited Sensoji Temple. As it was New Year's Day, there were many people, and even the temple visit itself involved waiting in line. At Tokyo Skytree, we took photos from directly beneath the tower and toured Solamachi, but since the guests did not seem very interested in shopping, I added a visit to the Imperial Palace. At the Imperial Palace, we viewed the Nijubashi Bridge from the Otemon Gate and enjoyed the vast grounds along with the backdrop of Tokyo's buildings. Being New Year's Day, we were also able to see dignitaries leaving the Imperial Palace. Although we could have reached the destination of Toyosu with a single subway line from Sakuradamon Station, since we had been using the subway the whole time, we decided to travel via the scenic Yurikamome line instead. We were able to enjoy the views of the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba. As a result, we arrived at the final destination, teamLab Planets TOKYO in Shin-Toyosu, about 10 minutes later than scheduled, and parted ways there. The guests said they had enjoyed all of the places we visited.
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 | Higashi-Shinjuku～Kuramae | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Asakusa～Tokyo Skytree | 160JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Oshiage～Otemachi (Tokyo) | 210JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Sakuradamon～Yurakucho | 180JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Yurakucho～Shimbashi | 150JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Shimbashi～Shin-Toyosu | 390JPY |
| Total | 1,310JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Imperial Palace and teamLab Planets TOKYO Shin-Toyosu.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,310JPY per person across 6 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Toshi is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
Self-Background
During my university years, I lived in a dormitory for four years and had the opportunity to live with many international students.
Of course, we spoke English.
After graduating from university, I started working as an English teacher at a junior high school.
I was able to have a fun teaching life while interacting with many students. During that time, I continued to study English on my own and obtained the pre-1st grade English proficiency test.
After that, I worked for the Board of Education as a supervisor in charge of English education, and then managed a school as a vice principal, and later principal.
After retiring from teaching, I took the TOEIC (L&R) and achieved my highest score of 945.
I also obtained a license as a national guide-interpreter, and began working as a guide for overseas visitors in English.
Currently, I guide tourists to several places around the country.
Many customers have told me that I am a good guide, saying that my guidance is easy to understand and that I have a lot of knowledge about sightseeing spots and history.
Furthermore, I will continue to improve my skills and make efforts to give you a better experience in Japan, so please come and enjoy your trip in Japan with me.