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
- 10:00 Hotel New Otani Tokyo EXECUTIVE HOUSE ZEN (Check on the guests' condition and readjust the destinations)
- 10:25 Depart from hotel
- 11:10 Senso-ji Temple
- 12:50 Nezu Shrine, a light lunch at a Chinese restaurant found on the way to the bus stop
- 14:40 Rikugien Garden
- 16:10 Harajuku
- 16:45 Dismissal
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo's Asakusa, Nezu Shrine, and Harajuku Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America who were remarkably energetic. I had presented two possible itineraries in advance, but the destinations remained undecided until the day of the tour. When we met, I explained each option, but the guests seemed unable to let go of either, so on the spot I created a third itinerary tailored to their wishes, and we proceeded along that plan. Asakusa was extremely crowded as expected, but since I had informed the guests in advance, we were able to explore it calmly. For the trip from Asakusa to Nezu Shrine, the guests experienced riding a local bus for the first time, and they enjoyed the journey. The azaleas at Nezu Shrine were in full bloom, and since I had deliberately not mentioned this beforehand, the guests were delighted. They also seemed particularly interested in the stone fox statue in front of Komagome Inari Shrine, and it was heartwarming to see them taking many photos. Since it was a hastily arranged third itinerary, I was a little worried about lunch, but as I had heard they had tempura the previous night and would have sushi that evening, I took a chance and we went into a casual local Chinese restaurant we spotted along the bus route, where the three of us ate gyoza. It turned out to be unexpectedly delicious and inexpensive, and the guests were very satisfied. At Rikugien Garden, one can enjoy matcha, and although the guests seemed a little hesitant, they were curious to try it, so I joined them, and we spent a relaxed moment in the gentle sunshine. Our final stop in Harajuku was brief, but the guests were satisfied simply to get a feel for the atmosphere. Overall, we were blessed with good weather, and the guests seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
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 | 209JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Asakusa～Ueno-hirokoji | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Ueno Park～Nezu Shrine Entrance | 210JPY |
| Section 4 | Bus | Sendagi 2-chome～Kamifujimae | 210JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Komagome～Harajuku | 208JPY |
| Total | 1,015JPY | ||
Welcome guests!
I am Masa Abe, though everyone calls me MASA. For over 40 years, I worked as an in-house lawyer for one of the most renowned Japanese companies in the world. During my tenure, I spent eight and a half years in New York, where I had the pleasure of studying, working, and making friends with wonderful people. I truly enjoyed living and traveling in the U.S.
After retiring from the company in 2023, I pursued a new path and soon qualified as a National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter. As your guide, I am excited to offer professional and heartfelt services to you, my new friends from abroad.
Best wishes, MASA
May 21, 2025
CraigMaplewood
Informative and knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Masa brought his strong historical knowledge and easy…
May 21, 2025
CraigMaplewood
Informative and knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Masa brought his strong historical knowledge and easy personality to complement our day
visiting the Imperial Palace and the Yanaka area of Tokyo. His English was excellent. He
answered all the questions we asked and made the tour day both easy and informative.
May 15, 2025
luc_arY4023MB
A memorable Tokyo tour with Masa
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I had a great time on…
May 15, 2025
luc_arY4023MB
A memorable Tokyo tour with Masa
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I had a great time on this tour! Our guide, Masa, was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. Communication was amazing even before the tour started—he listened to our interests and tailor-made the itinerary just for us. He shared interesting facts at each stop and made the whole experience feel personal and meaningful. My favorite parts were exploring Rikugien Garden and walking through Yanaka Ginza. The pace was perfect, and everything ran smoothly. Highly recommend this tour, especially with Masa as your guide!
May 8, 2025
Catherine_R
Great Tour to take on Day 1
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of Tokyo including…
May 8, 2025
Catherine_R
Great Tour to take on Day 1
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of Tokyo including tsukiji market and asakusa shrine. We learned how to get
a SUICA card and use the Tokyo train system. Mr Masa was very knowledgeable. It made us
confident to get around Tokyo for the rest of our trip!
Apr 25, 2025
TomQ188
A wonderful day in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I had a wonderful…
Apr 25, 2025
TomQ188
A wonderful day in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I had a wonderful 6-hour private tour with Masa Abe, who took us to Tokyo highlights that we had selected from a number of options he suggested. He was knowledgeable, interesting, taught us how to use the subway and spoke perfect English! We learned that he spent several years working for Sony in New York. If you can get him for your guide, you’ll be in very good hands.