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 @ Prince Gallery Kioicho
- 9:30 Asakusa
- 11:00 Akihabara
- 11:30 Meiji Shrine
- 12:30 Lunch @ Restaurant Yoyogi
- 13:30 Shibuya
- 14:00 Shinjuku Gyoen
- 15:40 Disband @ Sendagaya Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 9:00, when the guide met the guests at @ Prince Gallery Kioicho, and finished at 15:40. The day ran to 6 hours and 40 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @ Restaurant Yoyogi at 12:30.
From there the group visited Asakusa at 9:30, Akihabara at 11:00, Meiji Shrine at 11:30, Shibuya at 13:30 and Shinjuku Gyoen at 14:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Akasaka-mitsuke to Asakusa by subway (210JPY); Asakusa to Suehirocho by subway (180JPY); Akihabara to Harajuku by train (180JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (150JPY); Harajuku to Sendagaya by train (170JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 890JPY per person.
Title: What Can You See on a Rainy One-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. The tour began on a day with an all-day rain forecast, so I borrowed umbrellas at the hotel, and after the guests obtained Japanese yen from the currency exchange machine in the lobby, we set off.
At the guests' request, we visited Asakusa, Akihabara, Meiji Shrine, and Shinjuku Gyoen, and additionally went to the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Akihabara had been requested, and as it turned out, it seemed the request had been made by mistake, so we simply walked through from Suehirocho Station to Akihabara while taking in the streetscape. Thanks to this, we had extra time to spare and were able to include Shibuya as well. I had wanted to show the Hachiko statue, but despite the rain there was an enormous crowd, and the umbrellas made it impossible to see the statue at all. One of the guests kindly said they did not mind not being able to see it. Meiji Shrine seemed to be the guests' favorite of everything I guided.
Finally, I guided them through Shinjuku Gyoen. Despite the bad weather, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and truly magnificent. This seemed to please the guests as well. They were scheduled to go to Nikko the next day, so I was glad to be able to show them the blossoms in Tokyo before they fell. We took a break at a tea house I had learned about during training, then returned to Sendagaya Station, hailed a taxi, and said our goodbyes.
The guests had already signed up for a tour with a vehicle going forward, so they did not purchase an IC card, and we bought tickets each time instead.
They planned to continue on to Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, Himeji, and Hiroshima. I hope they have a wonderful trip.
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 | Subway | Akasaka-mitsuke～Asakusa | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Asakusa～Suehirocho | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Akihabara～Harajuku | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 150JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Harajuku～Sendagaya | 170JPY |
| Total | 890JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Prince Gallery Kioicho at 9:00, and the tour finished at @ Sendagaya Station at 15:40.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 40 minutes in total, from 9:00 to 15:40.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Asakusa, Akihabara, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya and Shinjuku Gyoen.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 890JPY 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?
Yoko 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.
I’m Yoko Kusumoto, a government lisenced English-speaking guide.
I have been living in Tokyo for more than 20 years, and it’s my pleasure to show you around Tokyo. I recommend Meiji Shrine and Asakusa if you are first time in Japan. I also recommend off-the-beaton path spots like Fukagawa Fudodo and Gotokuji Temple(lucky cat temple).
I was born and brought up in Kamakura, where the first shogun’s government was established. It will be my pleasure to introduce you my hometown as well.
I live with my husband and one teenage son.
I like traveling, flowers, sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, and exploring Tokyo.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Jun 2, 2026
ericahT6840AD
Awesome!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our day with Yoko was great! She took us to some…
Jun 2, 2026
ericahT6840AD
Awesome!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our day with Yoko was great! She took us to some great spots in Tokyo and was so helpful.
We would highly recommend her as a guide. If we are back, we will certainly request her
again!
May 20, 2026
CharKris17
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Walking Tour
We did a six-hour walking tour of Tokyo with…
May 20, 2026
CharKris17
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Walking Tour
We did a six-hour walking tour of Tokyo with Yoko and she was an exceptional guide. We saw multiple shrines (Meiji Shrine is a must see), the Imperial Palace, the “crossing” (there is a similar intersection in the Ginza shopping district which was also cool), the Tokyo Station, and the outer market where we ordered some fatty toro nigiri which was an etherial experience. Can’t say enough good things about Yoko. She taught ys a ton about the history of Japan and had a great sense of humor. A+
May 3, 2026
jefftK1794VZ
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fantastic day exploring Tokyo
This was our first time visiting Tokyo and…
May 3, 2026
jefftK1794VZ
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fantastic day exploring Tokyo
This was our first time visiting Tokyo and spending a day with Yoko as our guide was perhaps the best decision we could have made. Even before we arrived we traded messages with Yoko about what we might like to do. She offered valuable tips which made not only our time in Tokyo more efficient but while in Japan as a whole. We saw so many amazing things but Yoko also gave us a primer in using the Tokyo subway system and navigating some of the stations. I could go on and list all the things we did but each tour will be different. However I would highly recommend Yoko as a guide. Perhaps serendipitous, but we were stopped on the street the day after we toured with Yoko by a couple who had a list of things to do but was unsure how to go about doing the things on their list and where those things were located. I was thankful we chose the best guide so we didn’t have that problem.
Oct 23, 2025
Y6401BOshaunam
Knowledgable, engaging guide Yoko Kusmoto made day of Tokyo history, architecture and insights exceptional. le.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour…
Oct 23, 2025
Y6401BOshaunam
Knowledgable, engaging guide Yoko Kusmoto made day of Tokyo history, architecture and insights exceptional. le.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Yoko Kusmoto is exceptional . Her deep knowledge of Japan history, Tokyo’s
architecture and interesting Tokyo places made us appreciate all Tokyo has to offer. Her
smile, infectious laugh, kindness and interest added to our wonderful day.