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.
Tour Itinerary
- 1. 10:00 Meet up @ANA InterContinental Tokyo
- 2. 10:30 @Ginza (Ginza 4-chome Intersection, Nissan Showroom, Kyukyodo)
- 3. 11:00 @Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
- 4. 11:30 @Tokyo Station (Station Plaza, Station Building)
- 5. 12:00 @Nihonbashi (Takashimaya Basement Food Floor)
- 6. 12:30 @Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Sumida Park)
- 7. 13:00 Lunch @Chanko Restaurant (Asakusa)
- 8. 14:30 @Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Street
- 9. 15:30 @Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue, FUKURAS, PARCO)
- 10. 16:15 Break up @In front of Nintendo Shop (inside Shibuya PARCO)
Title: What Is a 6-Hour Private Tokyo Tour Like for a Visiting Family? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a family visiting from North America, who came to Tokyo after traveling through Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Mount Fuji. One of the guests had been taking part in a five-week academic program in Tokyo, which was the occasion for the family's first visit to Japan. Since they had already seen many historic temples and shrines, what actually delighted them in Tokyo were the sports cars displayed at the Nissan showroom in Ginza, and the beautiful strawberries and bento boxes they saw in the food hall of a department store in Nihonbashi. They were also astonished at the price of Miyazaki-grown mangoes, which reached tens of thousands of yen.
Over lunch, the guests shared the eventful story of their family's history. It began with the remark that one of them had been born in Africa. In early childhood, this guest had been affected by the expulsion of Indian residents under a dictatorship in the early 1970s, and had moved from the place of birth in Africa onward to Asia, then Europe, and finally to North America, passing through several places before settling in their current home. Others in the family who had also fled had first gone to Europe, growing up there before later moving to North America, where the guests eventually met. The two families had in fact known each other in Africa going back to their grandparents' generation. At the time of the expulsion, they said, all of their assets were seized by the regime, and they escaped with only a single suitcase.
Only later did I realize that behind their quiet, thoughtful questions about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the devastation of Tokyo during the Second World War lay such a harrowing personal experience — the lives of people swept up by great historical events. The six-hour tour ended as planned in Shibuya, where, since one of the guests was interested in Nintendo, I guided them to the Nintendo store in PARCO before saying goodbye.
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 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Tameike-Sanno Station～Ginza Station | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Ginza-itchome Station～Sakuradamon Station | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Nihonbashi Station～Asakusa Station | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station～Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line Meiji-jingumae Station～Shibuya Station | 0JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!
Sep 10, 2026
Sonal_G
Noripy is just the best
Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Noripy is such a…
Sep 10, 2026
Sonal_G
Noripy is just the best
Viator review: Tokyo Vegetarian and Halal Food Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Noripy is such a great guide and just a wonderful human being that felt like an old friend. We had first visited Tokyo eight years ago, so we had not planned on getting a tour, but we felt like we got both a Food Tour and a cultural tour with her and we were so grateful for both. My daughter is moving to Japan, and so we were excited to be here but we were disappointed that we had not been able to find vegetarian food as easily. Noripy had tips and tricks and language she suggested we use and helped us with our first vegan ramen which was excellent. I highly recommend anything you can do with a Noripy, you should run and go do it! She trained at Boston University and international relations, and had ties with both my daughters from her schooling which tickled us with delight. She is a spry woman and the kindest soul and I’m so glad our paths crossed as Tokyo came to life through her welcoming eyes. We were nervous about going on this tour because we had a bad experience with a different tour with someone else the night before, but she restored our faith in humanity and tour guides and that was a tall order.
Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
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Best Post cruise tour ever
It was…
Jul 3, 2026
Jody D
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
Best Post cruise tour ever
It was a GREAT TOUR with Noripy! With a family of many different ages and walking levels this was fantastic. We were picked up from our cruise in Yokohama and dropped off at Haneda airport. We had about 10 hours before our flight and it went flawlessly.
June 19, 2026
Alec T
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Noripy was excellent! She guided us through…
June 19, 2026
Alec T
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo in 4 hours
Noripy was excellent! She guided us through several parts of the city: Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Tokyo Tower, Sangedatsumon, Zojo-ji, Meiji Jingu, and Golden Gai. A great way to see many Tokyo sites and get acquainted with the city on your first day!
Jun 16, 2026
Hema_R
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Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…
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Hema_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady who managed to fit all the iconic Tokyo spots into my 6-hour tour without anything feeling rushed. She was knowledgeable, organised, and genuinely kind. Toward the end she even helped me with some shopping, which I really appreciated. A wonderful introduction to Tokyo and a guide I’d happily recommend….