Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa & Meiji Shrine — Guide Masa

March, 2026

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 Hotel (Shiba Park)
  • 11:00 Asakusa
  • 12:40 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
  • 14:10 Meiji Shrine
  • 14:30 Tour ends

Tour Itinerary in Detail

Meeting at Hotel (Shiba Park) at 10:30, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 14:30. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.

The itinerary covered Asakusa at 11:00, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 12:40 and Meiji Shrine at 14:10.

Travel between the sites was by public transport: Mita (Tokyo) to Asakusa by subway (220JPY); Asakusa to Takebashi by subway (210JPY); Nijubashimae to Meiji-jingumae by subway (210JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 640JPY per person.

What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and Meiji Shrine

The guests were a group visiting from Europe. They were very energetic, having arrived the previous day and already gone to Shibuya right away.

Asakusa was more crowded than expected, with congestion even from Exit A3, and Nakamise was extremely packed. I managed to keep moving while explaining along the way, but time kept slipping away.

It was the final day of the spring public opening at the Imperial Palace. We took photo after photo while viewing the cherry blossoms in various spots within the East Gardens. The strong sunshine made it warm enough for short sleeves, and we looked for drinks, but many were sold out. It was more crowded than anticipated.

Finally, we headed to Meiji Shrine. The crowds in Harajuku were also greater than expected, and at times I nearly lost sight of some of the guests. We ran out of time before reaching the main hall, so I guided them to the restaurant I had reserved, right at the scheduled end time. Since I had already explained about Meiji Shrine on the subway, I let them know they could take their time after their meal, and the tour came to an end.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayMita (Tokyo)～Asakusa220JPY
Section 2SubwayAsakusa～Takebashi210JPY
Section 3SubwayNijubashimae～Meiji-jingumae210JPY
Total640JPY

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?

The guide met the guests at Hotel (Shiba Park) at 10:30, and the tour finished at at 14:30.

How long does the tour last?

About 4 hours in total, from 10:30 to 14:30.

Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Asakusa, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine.

How much did transport cost on this tour?

Public transport came to 640JPY 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?

Masa 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.

Tour Report by Masa

Hello everyone, and welcome to Japan!
I obtained a national tour guide license back in 2001, while I have been busy teaching English full time for many years. Since 2018 I have enjoyed guiding guests from all over the world.

I live in a western suburb of Tokyo, so I can guide you around the wider Tama area as well as central Tokyo. I love introducing visitors to both the famous highlights and the hidden gems where you can take wonderful photos and experience authentic Japanese culture. Along the way, I enjoy sharing stories about Japanese history, traditions, and daily life.

I once worked in Australia as a teacher of Japanese language, which gave me many opportunities to communicate with people from different cultures.
I also enjoy golf — I even traveled alone to the UK for a golf tour.

I look forward to guiding you and helping your time in Japan both enjoyable and memorable.

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