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
- 10:30 Meet at Century Southern Tower
- 11:00 Imperial Palace, Inui-dori
- 12:30 Meiji Shrine, break at Mori no Terrace
- 14:00 Shibuya Crossing
- 14:30 Disperse at Shinjuku Station South Exit
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Imperial Palace, Inui-dori at 11:00, Meiji Shrine, break at Mori no Terrace at 12:30, Shibuya Crossing at 14:00 and Disperse at Shinjuku Station South Exit at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Tokyo by train (260JPY); Takebashi to Meiji-jingumae by subway (210JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (160JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 630JPY per person.
What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya
The guests were visitors from Europe. Since it was a week when the Imperial Palace was open to the public, we were able to walk through from the Sakashita-mon Gate to the Inui-mon Gate. They were amazed by the height of the stone walls of the former Edo Castle and the scale of the moats. The cherry blossoms were about thirty percent in bloom. As light rain began to fall, we skipped the East Gardens and headed to Meiji Shrine. The guests enjoyed the solemn atmosphere of Meiji Shrine and took a leisurely stroll. They stopped in front of the signboards displaying waka poems by the Emperor and Empress, taking their time to appreciate the meaning. One of the waka by Emperor Meiji conveyed the importance of learning, and the guests, who had a background in education, were deeply moved by its message. They mentioned that they had taught haiku in class before, and I was surprised to learn that Japanese culture is used as teaching material in Europe as well. Afterward, we took a break over coffee at a cafe and headed to Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. The Shibuya Crossing in the rain was beautiful with its colorful umbrellas. I took them to the second floor of the Mark City connecting passage, where they were able to take photos from above. Since it was raining and they wanted to return to their hotel, I saw them to the south exit of Shinjuku Station, where we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shinjuku～Tokyo | 260JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Takebashi～Meiji-jingumae | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 160JPY |
| Total | 630JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace, Inui-dori, Meiji Shrine, break at Mori no Terrace, Shibuya Crossing and Disperse at Shinjuku Station South Exit.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 630JPY per person across 3 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?
Yumi 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.
I’m YUMI. Japan is full of history, nature and culture. I would like to talk about them from many aspects. When you have some questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. There’re many off the beaten paths in Japan. If you want to walk in a hidden local area, I’ll tailor the special course as you wish.
Experiencing new foods is also one of many intriguing things during your trip. I would recommend anything from street foods such as Ramen, Yakitori to authentic Sushi or elegant courses. My policy is to cherish your feelings and time. Let’s enjoy talking and walking with me!
Jun 6, 2026
Michelle0309
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Off the tourist track in Tokyo
We had such a lovely time…
Jun 6, 2026
Michelle0309
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Off the tourist track in Tokyo
We had such a lovely time with our guide, Yumi. We wanted to visit places that showed us
life for Tokyo residents plus some architecture heroes. The four hours disappeared so
quickly and Yumi had planned our tour so efficiently, no wasted time. Yumi is a star!
May 25, 2026
lynnv748
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hakone was a highlight of our vacation
We loved our day…
May 25, 2026
lynnv748
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hakone was a highlight of our vacation
We loved our day with Yumi. She was so warm and friendly and very knowledgeable. She
took us to the major attractions in Hakone efficiently and helped us avoid long lines. We
took cable cars, a lovely boat ride and the bus.
May 20, 2026
Suzana F
Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji Food and Toyosu Market with Government-Licensed Guide
We learned and enjoyed every minut
Yumi was a fanty…
May 20, 2026
Suzana F
Tripadvisor review: Tsukiji Food and Toyosu Market with Government-Licensed Guide
We learned and enjoyed every minut
Yumi was a fanty guide. She make us feel welcomed and tried to capture and pass to us
the history and current vibe of the markets. Also she give us insides into food and Japanese
culture.
May 14, 2026
Robert_L
Excellent tour with our outstanding guide, Yumi
Viator review: Tokyo 6 hr Private Guided Tour & Tea Ceremony Experience
Yumi is…
May 14, 2026
Robert_L
Excellent tour with our outstanding guide, Yumi
Viator review: Tokyo 6 hr Private Guided Tour & Tea Ceremony Experience
Yumi is an outstanding guide. She greatly assisted in guiding us in our choices of areas Tokyo to tour based on our likes. Yumi gave us a wealth of information on Japanese history and culture specific to the areas we toured. She met us in the lobby of our Tokyo hotel and guided us with travel using the Tokyo train and subway. We choose to see the Rikugien garden, the Asakusa area of Tokyo and the Sensoji Temple. The Japanese Tea ceremony was beautiful, calming and informative. Yumi helped us arrange to add wearing Kimonos for this experience. She graciously took our photos throughout this tour. She is such a lovely lady. We highly recommend this tour and have high praises for Yumi.