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 at the hotel
- 08:30-9:30 Sightseeing at Senso-ji Temple
- 09:30-10:15 Sightseeing at Kappabashi
- 10:30-12:00 Sightseeing in Ginza
- 12:00-13:00 Visit the Imperial Palace
- 13:00-14:00 Visit Meiji Shrine, then head to Shibuya
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Sightseeing at Senso-ji Temple at 08:30, Sightseeing at Kappabashi at 09:30, Sightseeing in Ginza at 10:30, the Imperial Palace at 12:00 and Meiji Shrine, then head to Shibuya at 13:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ebisu to Ueno by train (208JPY); Ueno to Asakusa by train (178JPY); Asakusa to Ginza by train (209JPY); Ginza to Hibiya by train (178JPY); Nijubashi to Meiji-jingumae by train (178JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (146JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,097JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. They had great stamina and completed the tour without resting even into the sixth hour. Since they mentioned traveling light, I imagine they were experienced travelers. It was their first visit to Japan, and through our conversation I learned that they were touring Hakone, Yokohama, and Kyoto in a nicely balanced itinerary. They had been worried about rain even before we met, and for some reason we ended up buying a folding umbrella in Asakusa (a small one that works for both sun and rain). I had hoped to avoid the rain, but it always seemed to pour heavily right at the key "highlight" moments, so I now think it turned out to be a memorable tour in that respect.
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 | Ebisu～Ueno | 208JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Ueno～Asakusa | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Asakusa～Ginza | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Ginza～Hibiya | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Nijubashi～Meiji-jingumae | 178JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 146JPY |
| Total | 1,097JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Sightseeing at Senso-ji Temple, Sightseeing at Kappabashi, Sightseeing in Ginza, the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine, then head to Shibuya.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,097JPY 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?
Kappa 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.
Thank you for your entry in this tour. Nice to meet you in this mail.
Your tour guide Kappa is my nickname. Kappa is a traditional, imaginary creature who came into being in Japan over 300 years ago. She is good at swimming, like me, for I like swimming. I would like to make our tour operated smoothly as Kappa does when she swims in the river or pond. It is my pleasure to introduce many aspects in our tour, especially cooking, for it is my hobby and I went to the professional cooking and SAKE school, respectively. If you have any questions or requests about Japanese cooking, of course our tour, I am very delighted to answer to you anytime!
Jul 30, 2025
Michael_R
Customized Hakone tour
Viator review: Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour…
Jul 30, 2025
Michael_R
Customized Hakone tour
Viator review: Hakone 8 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide, Kappa-san, modified the typical Hakone tour to accommodate our interests, and is very helpful and knowledgeable. Since the day was very hot (95°F / 35°C) we favored activities that were more shaded or cool, including a walk on a cedar-lined section of the old Tokaido path.
May 18, 2025
Leigh_M
Kappa, our guide met us…
Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Kappa, our guide met us at the…
May 18, 2025
Leigh_M
Kappa, our guide met us…
Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Kappa, our guide met us at the train station and took us all over Kamakura. We saw shrines, the big Buddha, gardens, and the Oceanside! Kappa shared a lot of history about Kamakura, and it was nice to have this background when we were exploring these incredible sites! Highly recommend!
May 4, 2025
panderhigs
Kappa A+ Guide!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough…
May 4, 2025
panderhigs
Kappa A+ Guide!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kappa was an amazing guide who created a thorough and thoughtful itinerary for us over
the course of 6 hours. We saw SO much in such a short time and would definitely
recommend her!
May 4, 2025
O9621SBscottp
Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I were treated…
May 4, 2025
O9621SBscottp
Kappa is a wonderful tour guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I were treated to a wonderful walking tour of Tokyo with Kappa. Kappa was very accommodating in designing a tour specifically tailored to our interests. Kappa is a wealth of knowledge regarding the city history, temples and shrine, and Japanese art history. She is a lovely person too. I highly recommend Kappa if you want to learn about Tokyo