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 Candeo Hotels Tokyo Roppongi
- 08:10 Hotel
- 08:40 Meiji Shrine
- 10:00 Tsukiji
- 11:00 Nezu Shrine
- 11:30 Yanaka walk (rest at a cafe along the way)
- 12:45 Asakusa
- 13:30 Lunch at Yoroiya
- 14:15 Disband (Ginza Line Asakusa Station)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Candeo Hotels Tokyo Roppongi at 08:00, Meiji Shrine at 08:40, Tsukiji at 10:00, Nezu Shrine at 11:00, Yanaka walk (rest at a cafe along the way) at 11:30 and Asakusa at 12:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Roppongi to Ebisu by train (178JPY); Ebisu to Harajuku by train (146JPY); Meiji Shrine to Tsukiji by train (209JPY); Tsukiji to Nezu by train (178JPY); Nippori to Ueno by train (146JPY); Ueno to Asakusa by train (178JPY). Across 6 sections the fare came to 1,035JPY per person.
What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, Yanaka, and Asakusa
The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had arrived the previous day and planned to stay in Japan for about three weeks. Following the guests' wishes, we left the hotel with a full itinerary covering Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, Nezu/Yanaka, and Asakusa. Blessed with fine weather, we began at Meiji Shrine early in the morning, where the crowds were light and everyone enjoyed the refreshing, solemn atmosphere. We then moved on to Tsukiji, where, within a limited time, they experienced the diversity of the food on offer. By the time we reached Nezu Shrine, one of the guests decided to rest on a bench, perhaps due to jet lag, tiredness from walking, or the increasingly strong sunshine. The rest of the group continued the tour and began walking through Yanaka, but when the resting guest seemed short of breath, I suggested stopping at a café we happened to pass. Everyone had their favorite drink, recovered their energy, and we headed to Asakusa. Although Asakusa had been included at the guests' request, one of the guests, who had an interest in Buddhism, found the festival-like atmosphere of Asakusa somewhat disappointing (they had expected something more solemn), while the others enjoyed its lively atmosphere. Finally, we decided to have lunch in Asakusa, and fortunately there were seats available at Yoroiya, so we all filled up on ramen. I accompanied the guests, who wanted to return to the hotel to rest, on the Ginza Line, and we parted at Ginza where they transferred to the Hibiya Line. At lunch, the guests kindly gave me a pin badge from their home region as a souvenir, which I gratefully received.
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 | Roppongi～Ebisu | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Ebisu～Harajuku | 146JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Meiji Shrine～Tsukiji | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Tsukiji～Nezu | 178JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Nippori～Ueno | 146JPY |
| Section 6 | Train | Ueno～Asakusa | 178JPY |
| Total | 1,035JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Candeo Hotels Tokyo Roppongi, Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, Nezu Shrine, Yanaka walk (rest at a cafe along the way) and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,035JPY 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?
Masa 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.
Welcome guests!
I am Masa Abe, though everyone calls me MASA. For over 40 years, I worked as an in-house lawyer for one of the most renowned Japanese companies in the world. During my tenure, I spent eight and a half years in New York, where I had the pleasure of studying, working, and making friends with wonderful people. I truly enjoyed living and traveling in the U.S.
After retiring from the company in 2023, I pursued a new path and soon qualified as a National Government Licensed Guide-Interpreter. As your guide, I am excited to offer professional and heartfelt services to you, my new friends from abroad.
Best wishes, MASA
May 21, 2025
CraigMaplewood
Informative and knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Masa brought his strong historical knowledge and easy…
May 21, 2025
CraigMaplewood
Informative and knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Masa brought his strong historical knowledge and easy personality to complement our day
visiting the Imperial Palace and the Yanaka area of Tokyo. His English was excellent. He
answered all the questions we asked and made the tour day both easy and informative.
May 15, 2025
luc_arY4023MB
A memorable Tokyo tour with Masa
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I had a great time on…
May 15, 2025
luc_arY4023MB
A memorable Tokyo tour with Masa
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I had a great time on this tour! Our guide, Masa, was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. Communication was amazing even before the tour started—he listened to our interests and tailor-made the itinerary just for us. He shared interesting facts at each stop and made the whole experience feel personal and meaningful. My favorite parts were exploring Rikugien Garden and walking through Yanaka Ginza. The pace was perfect, and everything ran smoothly. Highly recommend this tour, especially with Masa as your guide!
May 8, 2025
Catherine_R
Great Tour to take on Day 1
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of Tokyo including…
May 8, 2025
Catherine_R
Great Tour to take on Day 1
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Wonderful tour of Tokyo including tsukiji market and asakusa shrine. We learned how to get
a SUICA card and use the Tokyo train system. Mr Masa was very knowledgeable. It made us
confident to get around Tokyo for the rest of our trip!
Apr 25, 2025
TomQ188
A wonderful day in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I had a wonderful…
Apr 25, 2025
TomQ188
A wonderful day in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I had a wonderful 6-hour private tour with Masa Abe, who took us to Tokyo highlights that we had selected from a number of options he suggested. He was knowledgeable, interesting, taught us how to use the subway and spoke perfect English! We learned that he spent several years working for Sony in New York. If you can get him for your guide, you’ll be in very good hands.