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
- 9:30 Meet at the hotel, take the train
- 10:10 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 10:50 Take the train
- 11:15 See Muji in Ginza
- 12:30 Take the train
- 12:40 See Shinjuku Golden Gai
- 13:20 Lunch at a cafe
- 13:50 Take the train
- 14:20 Tokyo Tower
- 15:10 Take the train
- 15:30 Hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 10:10, Take the train at 10:50, See Muji in Ginza at 11:15, Take the train at 12:30, See Shinjuku Golden Gai at 12:40, Take the train at 13:50, Tokyo Tower at 14:20 and Take the train at 15:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Akasaka-mitsuke to Takebashi by subway (178JPY); Otemachi to Ginza by subway (178JPY); Ginza to Shinjuku-sanchome by subway (209JPY); Shinjuku-sanchome to Kamiyacho by subway (178JPY); Kamiyacho to Akasaka-mitsuke by subway (178JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 921JPY per person.
What Is a Rainy-Day Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Oceania. The schedule we had discussed and decided on in advance had been planned on the assumption of clear weather, so we made several last-minute changes. In the morning there was fairly heavy rain, and we walked through the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace from Hirakawamon Gate to Otemon Gate, but one of the guest's shoes got completely soaked. We had planned to go to Takeshita Street next, but since it is a district popular with young people and the street is narrow, I thought carrying umbrellas would make it difficult without bumping into others, so we changed the plan to Ginza. Since one of the guests wanted to look at waterproof shoes, we went to a shoe store, but the sneakers there had too much decoration and were not to their liking. Wanting at least to buy some socks, we went to a lifestyle goods store, where they found simple water-repellent sneakers, tried them on, and made a purchase. One of the guests also liked some of the clothing at the same store, but since the size would have to be ordered in, they did not purchase it, and instead bought some jelly as a gift.
There was a request to have lunch in the Shinjuku Golden Gai area, but partly due to the rain, all of the places that were open were operating as bars (as of 12:40). Since the guests wanted to have something light like a sandwich, they had sandwiches at a coffee shop.
Finally we went to Tokyo Tower, and although the poor weather meant the distant views were not visible, they were able to see the nearby scenery very well and enjoyed it greatly.
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～Takebashi | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Otemachi～Ginza | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Ginza～Shinjuku-sanchome | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Shinjuku-sanchome～Kamiyacho | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Subway | Kamiyacho～Akasaka-mitsuke | 178JPY |
| Total | 921JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Take the train, See Muji in Ginza, Take the train, See Shinjuku Golden Gai, Take the train, Tokyo Tower and Take the train.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 921JPY 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?
Sam 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.
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.