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.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:00 Hotel
- 10:40 Imperial Palace East Gardens
- 12:00 Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, Tsukiji Fish Market (Lunch)
- 14:00 Tokyo Tower
- 15:00 Matcha Latte in Shinjuku
- 16:00 Escort to Takashimaya, disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Imperial Palace East Gardens at 10:40, Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, Tsukiji Fish Market (Lunch) at 12:00, Tokyo Tower at 14:00 and Matcha Latte in Shinjuku at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Iidabashi by train (167JPY); Iidabashi to Takebashi by subway (178JPY); Otemachi to Tsukiji by subway (178JPY); Tsukiji to Kamiyacho by subway (178JPY); Daimon to Shinjuku by subway (220JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 921JPY per person.
Cherry Blossoms and Tsukiji: What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. After viewing the cherry blossoms at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, we went to Tsukiji, but since they were unsure which shop to choose, I selected one for them. I told them that lunch usually costs within about 2,000 yen and that this price range is a good choice, and they were very grateful that, thanks to the guide, they were able to avoid shops that overcharge tourists. At Tsukiji, they mentioned they had been asked to bring back some shichimi (Japanese seven-spice), but they wanted one with the highest proportion of paprika, which is not common in Japan, so we were unable to find it.
Since the guests were from North America, they were dressed lightly even though the high for the day was 9 degrees, but as it grew colder they wanted to buy a jacket, so I guided them to the North Face store at Shinjuku Takashimaya, and the tour came to an end.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Shinjuku～Iidabashi | 167JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Iidabashi～Takebashi | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi～Tsukiji | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Tsukiji～Kamiyacho | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Daimon～Shinjuku | 220JPY |
| Total | 921JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace East Gardens, Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, Tsukiji Fish Market (Lunch), Tokyo Tower and Matcha Latte in Shinjuku.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 921JPY 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?
Sam 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.
Hi, I’m Sam.
I am happy to welcome you all to Japan.
Since I was a child, my parents welcomed many international students into our home and I had many opportunities to interact with them. My mother is a translator, and I have always seen her guiding foreigners around Japan, so it was natural for me to start doing the same.
I am good at guiding people to popular places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, as well as photogenic spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Since I was a child, I’ve watched anime like Pokémon and played Nintendo games, and I still buy around 100 manga comic books a month. I love shopping in Akihabara! I currently live in Urayasu City, Chiba, so close that I can see fireworks from Disneyland from my house every night.
Please feel free to ask me anything!
Sep 26, 2026
Carl_W
Tokyo city tour custom
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Sam was very knowledgeable and…
Sep 26, 2026
Carl_W
Tokyo city tour custom
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Sam was very knowledgeable and accommodating. She knew about all of the city and train system and food
Sep 7, 2026
782alessandrof
Sam was amazing
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
It was a very rainy day…
Sep 7, 2026
782alessandrof
Sam was amazing
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
It was a very rainy day and Sam went above and beyond to make sure we had the greatest experience and we stayed mostly dry. She chose an amazing ramen restaurant and made us feel cared for and very comfortable. She talked a lot about the history and the culture and it is clear that she is very passionate about her job. When we come back to Tokyo, we will request her again.
Aug 24, 2026
596vincentz
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Sam was an star tour guide for us
our Guide Sam was…
Aug 24, 2026
596vincentz
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Sam was an star tour guide for us
our Guide Sam was amazing! she was really flexible with us and try to look out for our need during the trip and went above and beyond to help make our trip a smooth experience.
Aug 10, 2026
piperl686
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Honeymoon Tour in Tokyo
We are so happy that…
Aug 10, 2026
piperl686
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Honeymoon Tour in Tokyo
We are so happy that we got to experience Tokyo with Sam (Sayumi) as our tour guide! She was so friendly, helpful, and brimming with fun facts. We really appreciated that after giving her a draft itinerary, she provided great recommendations about how to maximize our experience on the tour. She also went above and beyond to help us find a few specific items on our shopping list in Shibuya and Shinjuku, and went out of her way to take us to several One Piece stores because we mentioned it was a favorite show of ours. Overall we are so pleased and would highly recommend Sam to anyone looking to have a blast in Tokyo!