Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Take

May, 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

  • Hotel 8:50 meet ＞ Shinjuku Station ＞ Gotokuji Station ＞ Gotokuji Temple ＞ Harajuku Station ＞ Meiji Shrine ＞ Takeshita Street ＞ Ura-Harajuku ＞ Lunch 12:00 ＞ Ginza (Gsix, Itoya, Sanrio) ＞ Shinjuku (3D cat screen, Godzilla Head, Omoide Yokocho) ＞ Dismiss at Shinjuku Station 3:00

What Can You See on a Private Full-Day Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report

At Gotokuji Temple, the guests enjoyed the maneki-neko (beckoning cats) and purchased some as souvenirs. When asked about sotoba (memorial tablets), I explained that they are set up to honor the deceased, timed with occasions such as Obon and the equinox. At Meiji Shrine, I explained the purification ritual, how to worship, and the meaning of ema votive tablets. The guests seemed to appreciate the quiet atmosphere and liked the kanji character for tranquility. On Takeshita Street, we visited shops including a well-known boutique. The guests smiled fondly at the cute mini pigs. On the way back, they finally got to try the long-awaited strawberry stick. For lunch, they enjoyed making and eating okonomiyaki. A television station came to do a report, and since the guests agreed, we took part. They looked delighted at being able to flip the okonomiyaki nicely. At the Ginza Sanrio store, they purchased their favorite Hello Kitty goods. In Shinjuku, they had requested to see the 3D cat, and along the way they were happy to see the Godzilla Head. While they enjoyed the Godzilla Head itself, after waiting five minutes the Godzilla's roar was faint and the beam it emitted was not very impressive; although they did not say so aloud, they seemed a little disappointed.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShinjuku～Gotokuji200JPY
Section 2TrainGotokuji～Meiji-jingumae330JPY
Section 3TrainHarajuku～Ginza360JPY
Section 4SubwayGinza～Shinjuku210JPY
Total1,100JPY

Tour Report by Take

Hi, everyone!
My name is Ryoji Takeuchi. Please call me Take.
I am really glad to have an opportunity to guide you.
I would like to tell you why I became a tour guide. About 10 years ago I traveled mountain area. On the same day I arrived there, Tyhoon hit the area too. A river was raging and maddy but at noon of the next day, the river became transparent, I could see the garvel at the bottom of the river, so clear. I just thought it was because Typhoon had passed, but the guide walking with me said water soaked into the mountain ground, then filtered. That pure water sprang up from the bottom of the river, so it became clear so quickly. Without a guide, I could not notice that natural mechanism. And I want to be like her, then I am a guide now.
BY the way I would like to introduce my career and myself, briefly.
I was born in the suburbs of Tokyo. I grew up there in nature, so I like nature very much. I worked at a construction company for 26years, a massage practice and an architect’s office for about 15 to20 years, and retired. I started to work as a tour guide in 2019. I like sports, such as swimming, scuba diving, Japanese martial arts(Judo, karate, sumo etc.), soft ball and so on, now walking and watching rugby.
I often guide Tsukiji market, sumo watching ,Ninja and Samurai experience, and one day tour of Tokyo or old city Kamakura and so on.
I often travel in Tokyo here and there with my wife. Tokyo has various faces, high technology, traditional culture, historical building, fish market, subculture spot and so on.

Enjoy Tokyo with me!

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May 8, 2025
Jennifer_K
Great way to start our 2 week trip!
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Take was a wonderful…