Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Take

March, 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

  • 10:30 Met at the lobby of the Hotel Main Tower. The guests were a Filipino-American parent and child. Headed to the Tsukiji Outer Market. Strolled around the Outer Market and Tsukiji Uogashi. Sampled beans and goma (sesame) samples and enjoyed wagyu skewers. Had lunch at Sushizanmai Okunoin. Each ordered and ate their favorites, such as nigiri, California rolls, and tempura, at 1:00PM. Went to Sanrio in West Ginza, browsed and purchased Kitty goods. Next, went to Meiji Shrine. Since the husband seemed to have some difficulty walking, I took the wife and daughter for a stroll. Meanwhile, the husband had a coffee break. Had them try the purification method at the temizuya (water pavilion) and how to pray in the Shinto style at the worship hall. From the main hall, we took a back path so they could feel the sacred and quiet atmosphere. The plan was to reunite and take them to the Pokemon Center before parting, but they offered to part ways since they would look around the area themselves, so we said goodbye there at 4:00PM. Since they arrived at the hotel last night via Narita, they seemed to be tired from jet lag and walking.

What Can You See on a Private Tokyo Walking Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report

The plan had originally been to see cherry blossoms, but since they were not in bloom, I suggested visiting the Hachiko statue during the morning itinerary briefing. Along the way, the guests mentioned they were not particularly interested in Hachiko, so I proposed and switched to visiting the Sanrio shop in Ginza to see Hello Kitty, and we headed there. The guests were very excited and spent quite a while looking around and shopping. At Meiji Shrine, they experienced the Shinto purification ritual and prayer, which they found very interesting. They enjoyed drawing omikuji fortunes and writing wishes on ema plaques before placing them at the designated spot. We parted ways 30 minutes early by agreement, which was likely because the guests had arrived at the Hotel the previous evening via Narita and were tired from jet lag and walking.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShinagawa～Shimbashi170JPY
Section 2SubwayShimbashi～Tsukiji180JPY
Section 3TrainTsukiji～Shibuya210JPY
Section 4TrainShibuya～Harajuku150JPY
Total710JPY

Tour Report by Take

Hi, everyone!
My name is Ryoji Takeuchi. Please call me Take.
I am really glad to have an opportunity to guide you.
I would like to tell you why I became a tour guide. About 10 years ago I traveled mountain area. On the same day I arrived there, Tyhoon hit the area too. A river was raging and maddy but at noon of the next day, the river became transparent, I could see the garvel at the bottom of the river, so clear. I just thought it was because Typhoon had passed, but the guide walking with me said water soaked into the mountain ground, then filtered. That pure water sprang up from the bottom of the river, so it became clear so quickly. Without a guide, I could not notice that natural mechanism. And I want to be like her, then I am a guide now.
BY the way I would like to introduce my career and myself, briefly.
I was born in the suburbs of Tokyo. I grew up there in nature, so I like nature very much. I worked at a construction company for 26years, a massage practice and an architect’s office for about 15 to20 years, and retired. I started to work as a tour guide in 2019. I like sports, such as swimming, scuba diving, Japanese martial arts(Judo, karate, sumo etc.), soft ball and so on, now walking and watching rugby.
I often guide Tsukiji market, sumo watching ,Ninja and Samurai experience, and one day tour of Tokyo or old city Kamakura and so on.
I often travel in Tokyo here and there with my wife. Tokyo has various faces, high technology, traditional culture, historical building, fish market, subculture spot and so on.

Enjoy Tokyo with me!

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May 8, 2025
Jennifer_K
Great way to start our 2 week trip!
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