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 Meet at the hotel, head to Shinjuku Station
- 10:20 Purchase Shinkansen tickets
- 10:40 Look for an ATM at Shinjuku East Exit to withdraw cash
- 11:00 Cafe
- 11:30 Bic Camera, Uniqlo, DAISO
- 12:30 Buy a bento at the Shinjuku Isetan department store food hall, take the Metro to Shinjuku-gyoemmae
- 13:20 Picnic at Shinjuku Gyoen
- 14:30 Head to Shinjuku West Exit
- 15:00 Cafe
- 16:00 End of tour
Title: What's a Local-Style Private Day in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe, one of whom had been to Japan before for travel, while the other was visiting for the first time. They wanted to experience how local people really spend their days, so they preferred not to visit typical tourist spots. Because of this, I suggested places like a discount variety store, a 100-yen shop, and a picnic in advance, and with their agreement, and thanks to the clear weather, we went ahead with the plan.
First, they mentioned that they had booked a hotel in Kyoto for the day after next but had not yet reserved a bullet train ticket. I explained that they needed to buy one quickly, as tickets could sell out, so we purchased it right away. They also wanted to buy an IC card, but since they had no Japanese yen at all, they could not buy a Suica. We tried to withdraw Japanese yen from an ATM using a credit card, but it did not work no matter how many times we tried (likely because it was a card issued overseas). We also tried to exchange the only 50 pounds they had at a currency exchange machine, but it was too creased to be accepted. The banks were closed for the holidays as well. However, when they bought a drink at a convenience store near Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station, we found a Japan Post Bank ATM that accepted international cards, and they were finally able to withdraw cash.
At the department store food floor, they said, "There's so much, I can't choose!" and bought a salmon bento. We had a picnic at Shinjuku Gyoen and enjoyed the Japanese garden, and afterwards we went to a coffee shop right in front of the hotel, but there was a wait of six groups, so instead they enjoyed matcha milk, matcha cheesecake, and Mont Blanc at another café.
The guests were very satisfied, saying that they had truly experienced a Japanese day off.
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 | Shinjuku～Shinjuku-gyoemmae | 178JPY |
| Total | 178JPY | ||
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!
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience.…
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience. Sayumi-San (Sam) was an absolutely amazing tour guide. She met me at my hotel and was a complete professional from the word ‘go.’ We did a good amount of walking to the sights/sites and rode the train to some places that were farther away from each other. Sam was very knowledgeable about the history of Japan and the places we visited. She was very respectful of my interests and curated a tour that fit well with what I wanted to see. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her and the tour.
The six hour tour included lunch. I recommend bringing water, though, while walking around and bringing a hat or small umbrella because the sun can be brutal. Finally, wear comfortable shoes.
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our…
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our requests and made them into a
manageable itinerary. She was wonderful with our daughter, too! Highly recommended.
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She…
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She meticulously coordinated our itinerary based on our preferences and included great local places to eat that were reasonably priced and delicious. Her insights and own personal experiences made the visit extra special.
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an…
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an amazing time in our tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, professional and friendly. We hit all of the main sites in Tokyo. Each stop our guide walked us through the experience and we felt immersed in the local culture. Would highly recommend this tour guide.