Tokyo in One Day: Zojoji Temple — Guide Toru
April, 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
- 08:00 Meet-up at the hotel
- 08:20 Visit Zojoji Temple
- 09:15 Food tour at Tsukiji Outer Market
- 11:00 Watch the Goma fire ritual at Fukagawa Fudo
- 12:20 Shopping at the Ghibli Shop in Solamachi
- 13:00 Visit Sensoji Temple and stroll around Asakusa
- 14:00 Dismissal at Mitsukoshimae Station (at the guest's request, to enjoy shopping after the tour)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at -up at the hotel at 08:00, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 14:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Zojoji Temple at 08:20, Food tour at Tsukiji Outer Market at 09:15, Watch the Goma fire ritual at Fukagawa Fudo at 11:00, Shopping at the Ghibli Shop in Solamachi at 12:20 and Sensoji Temple and stroll around Asakusa at 13:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Mita to Daimon by train (150JPY); Daimon to Tsukiji Market by train (180JPY); Tsukiji Market to Monzen-nakacho by train (180JPY); Monzen-nakacho to Oshiage by train (290JPY); Oshiage to Asakusa by train (180JPY); Asakusa to Mitsukoshimae by train (180JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,160JPY per person.
What Is a 6-Hour Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shibakoen, Tsukiji, and Asakusa
The weather was beautiful, and the guests were delighted that it was perfect for a walking tour.
At Zojoji Temple, the guests took photographs with great interest, capturing the contrast between the temple and Tokyo Tower against the clear blue sky.
At the Tsukiji Outer Market, the guests enjoyed tuna sushi, hearty wagyu beef BBQ, seafood BBQ, and strawberry daifuku and strawberry skewers. They were especially impressed by the juicy wagyu beef and the fresh strawberries.
At Fukagawa Fudo, the guests said the powerful drumming and the flames of the goma fire ritual were striking, and they told me it was the most exciting of all the places we visited today.
We visited the Ghibli shop at Solamachi by request, as some of the guests are Ghibli fans. The guests enjoyed shopping for Ghibli goods.
Sensoji Temple was crowded, but the guests were moved by how beautiful the Kaminarimon Gate and the five-story pagoda were. When one of the guests drew "daikichi" (great blessing) in an omikuji fortune, I explained that the probability of drawing daikichi at Sensoji is quite low, and the guest was overjoyed. Boasting, "The good weather today is thanks to my great blessing," the guest carefully carried the fortune slip home.
The guests were on very good terms with one another, and it was such a wonderful 6 hours that I found myself smiling as we chatted together.
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 | Mita～Daimon | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Daimon～Tsukiji Market | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Tsukiji Market～Monzen-nakacho | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Monzen-nakacho～Oshiage | 290JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Oshiage～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Asakusa～Mitsukoshimae | 180JPY |
| Total | 1,160JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at -up at the hotel at 08:00, and the tour finished at Mitsukoshimae Station (at the guest's request, to enjoy shopping after the tour) at 14:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 08:00 to 14:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Zojoji Temple, Food tour at Tsukiji Outer Market, Watch the Goma fire ritual at Fukagawa Fudo, Shopping at the Ghibli Shop in Solamachi and Sensoji Temple and stroll around Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,160JPY per person across 6 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?
Toru 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.
Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.