Tokyo in Half a Day: Shinjuku walk & Koishikawa Korakuen — Guide Masa

May, 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

  • 9:00 Meet at hotel
  • 9:00-9:30 Shinjuku walk
  • 9:50-10:20 Sakuradamon, Nijubashi Bridge
  • 10:30-11:15 Nezu Shrine
  • 11:45-12:40 Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
  • 13:00 Arrive at hotel

Tour Itinerary in Detail

From there the group visited Shinjuku walk at 9:00, Sakuradamon, Nijubashi Bridge at 9:50, Nezu Shrine at 10:30 and Koishikawa Korakuen Garden at 11:45.

Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Kasumigaseki (Tokyo) by subway (180JPY); Nijubashimae to Nezu by subway (180JPY); Nezu to Shin-Ochanomizu by subway (180JPY); Ochanomizu to Suidobashi by train (160JPY); Suidobashi to Shinjuku by train (210JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 910JPY per person.

Can You Do a Quiet, Crowd-Free Private Day Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe. Based on their request to avoid crowds and see quieter places, I planned the itinerary accordingly. Since their Hotel was near Shinjuku West Exit, I guided them toward the Marunouchi Line while showing them the streetscape around the East Exit to avoid the construction site. This was not only their first visit to Japan but their first time leaving their home continent, so everything seemed new and fascinating, and they took so many photos that we were running a little behind from the morning.

Since it was Monday, we entered from Sakuradamon Gate and went to Nijubashi Bridge. The stone walls and the pine trees all felt fresh to them, and they kept pointing their cameras at everything.

Their love of photography continued at Nezu Shrine, and they took their time photographing the Inari shrine as well. Due to time constraints, I suggested giving up on Yanaka Ginza and heading instead to the next stop, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, which they agreed to. Korakuen had fewer visitors than usual, so we were able to stroll around at a leisurely pace. We then headed to Shinjuku via Suidobashi, and I saw them off at their Hotel to conclude the tour. Because we took our time going around, they seemed highly satisfied.

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

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayShinjuku～Kasumigaseki (Tokyo)180JPY
Section 2SubwayNijubashimae～Nezu180JPY
Section 3SubwayNezu～Shin-Ochanomizu180JPY
Section 4TrainOchanomizu～Suidobashi160JPY
Section 5TrainSuidobashi～Shinjuku210JPY
Total910JPY

Frequently Asked Questions

Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Shinjuku walk, Sakuradamon, Nijubashi Bridge, Nezu Shrine and Koishikawa Korakuen Garden.

How much did transport cost on this tour?

Public transport came to 910JPY per person across 5 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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