Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Lance
December, 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
- 1.9.00 Intercontinental Tokyo Bay
- 2.9.25-10.00 Imperial Garden From Otemon Gate to Hirakawamon Gate
- 3.10.30-11.10 Asakusa From Kaminarimon Gate to Nitenmon Gate
- 4.11.25-12.20 Ueno Park
- 5.12.30 -14.00 Ramen (Rokurinsha)
- 6.14.30-15.30 Meiji Jingu
- 7.16.00 Intercontinental Tokyo Bay
Title: What Is a Private Minibus Tour of Tokyo Like for a Group? A Licensed Guide's Report
This was a private chartered minibus tour for a group of guests visiting from North America. During the ride, I explained Japanese history and information about our destinations. With a small number of guests, I can proceed while chatting, but with a larger group the guide needs to keep talking continuously, so at times I ran out of topics, and some guests looked at their smartphones even while I was speaking. I taught them some simple Japanese, talked about the origins of kanji, hiragana, and katakana, shared some of my own English mistakes, and did my best to keep them from getting bored. Ueno Toshogu Shrine has more than 250 stone lanterns, and one of the guests asked, "Do you ever light these?" I was also asked, "Why does the five-story pagoda have five stories?" and I answered, "Because odd numbers are considered lucky numbers. There are also three-story pagodas." (Looking it up later, I learned that the five roofs symbolize earth, water, fire, wind, and sky.) Along the way, the bus we were waiting to meet arrived 20 minutes late, and there was a 40-minute wait at a ramen restaurant, so we ended up returning one hour past the scheduled time, resulting in an extension fee of 6,600 yen. The guests were very endearing, coming to hug me many times and asking to hold hands. We all headed to the hotel singing Christmas songs, and at the end I said, "It's time to say 'Sayonara'" as we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
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!