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 Meet at Hotel Tokyu
- 08:20～09:20 Meiji Shrine sightseeing
- 09:20～09:40 Takeshita Street
- 10:00～11:00 Imperial Palace sightseeing
- 11:30～11:50 Nezu Shrine
- 12:40～13:10 Lunch
- 13:10～14:00 Yanaka Ginza・Yanaka Cemetery
- 14:00 Tour ends at Nippori Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 08:00 at Hotel Tokyu and ended at 14:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at 12:40.
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine sightseeing at 08:20, Takeshita Street at 09:20, Imperial Palace sightseeing at 10:00, Nezu Shrine at 11:30 and Yanaka Ginza・Yanaka Cemetery at 13:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shibuya to Harajuku by train (146JPY); Omotesando-mae to Nijubashimae by subway (209JPY); Hibiya to Nezu by subway (178JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 533JPY per person.
Title: What's a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America, visiting Japan for the first time. We started the tour energetically at 8:00 in the morning and thoroughly walked through Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and the Yanaka-Nezu-Sendagi area, which they greatly enjoyed (covering more than 20,000 steps with ease). They showed great interest in Japanese culture and history, asking many questions about topics such as emperors, shoguns, Shinto, and Buddhism, and were delighted, saying the tour was very educational. (Thank you so much for taking us all around Tokyo and educating us about the culture and history!) At Nezu Shrine the azaleas had unfortunately already finished blooming, but they were lucky enough to buy Nezu taiyaki and were pleased with how delicious it was. We walked through Yanaka Ginza and finally visited the grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, ending the tour at Nippori Station. Since it was 14:00, I then gave them guidance on stopping by Shinjuku before returning to Shibuya, and we parted ways.
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 | Shibuya～Harajuku | 146JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Omotesando-mae～Nijubashimae | 209JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Hibiya～Nezu | 178JPY |
| Total | 533JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel Tokyu at 08:00, and the tour finished at Tour ends at Nippori Station at 14:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 08:00 to 14:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine sightseeing, Takeshita Street, Imperial Palace sightseeing, Nezu Shrine and Yanaka Ginza・Yanaka Cemetery.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 533JPY per person across 3 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?
Hide 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.
About HIDE
Hello, my name is Hideki (HIDE), a licensed tour guide based in Tokyo.
I spent more than 40 years working in the airline industry, including 12 years living and working overseas.
During that time, I had extensive opportunities to interact with people from Europe, the United States, and Asia. These experiences strengthened my appreciation for cultural exchange and shaped the warm, attentive hospitality I now bring to my tours.
My goal is to help visitors enjoy Japan in a relaxed and meaningful way—through not only sightseeing, but also friendly communication, small discoveries, and genuine local experiences. I want guests to leave Japan with a deeper understanding of the culture and a lasting fondness for the country.
I mainly guide private tours (FIT) in Tokyo, introducing both iconic highlights and hidden local spots that are often missed by first-time visitors. Tours to Kamakura, Hakone, and Nikko can also be arranged upon request.
Guests often tell me that touring with me feels like traveling with a knowledgeable local friend—something I consider the greatest compliment. I look forward to welcoming you and sharing an enjoyable, comfortable, and memorable time together.
Languages: English, Indonesian
Max group size: Up to 4 people
Contact:
📱 +81-80-5118-2800 (WhatsApp available)
📧 morikin57@yahoo.co.jp
Apr 6, 2026
Mercedes_G
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Great guide in Tokyo
Wonderful tour with friendly…
Apr 6, 2026
Mercedes_G
Viator review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Great guide in Tokyo
Wonderful tour with friendly Hide, thank you so much for showing us a bit of lovely Tokyo
city, we really enjoyed. Highly recommended *****
May 30, 2025
Paradise22352245597
Great! Hide was the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I did this with my brother on…
May 30, 2025
Paradise22352245597
Great! Hide was the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
I did this with my brother on our first day of our amazing Japan trip and were so glad we did! Our friend for the day, Hide, was the nicest and knowledgeable guide we could have ever asked for.
Some of my favorite pictures of the trip were i the various spots we chose. Hide if you read this we can’t thank you enough for giving us the best note to start off the best two weeks we could have imagined on :).
※お世話になっております。JGA佐藤です。メールでご連絡いただき、誠にありがとうございました。
レビュー内容から“Hide”さんであることは分かっていたのですが、東京には“Hide”というニックネームのガイドが複数おり、どの方か特定ができず、そのままになっておりました。
今回ご連絡いただけて、本当に助かりました。ありがとうございます。
今後スムーズに確認ができるよう、もし可能であれば、ゲストの方へレビュー投稿時にフルネームでご記載いただくことをおすすめいただくか、もしくは他の方と重複しにくいニックネームにご変更いただくなど、ご協力を賜れますと幸いです。今後とも、何卒よろしくお願いいたします。
May 15, 2025
TrishaK454
Personalized tour with a very lovely guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hide was a delightful guide.…
May 15, 2025
TrishaK454
Personalized tour with a very lovely guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hide was a delightful guide. He spent many hours preparing our itinerary and even planned
a special surprise for my husbands birthday. He was informative and very kind, also helping
us secure our tickets to Hakone. Thank you Hide!
Apr 29, 2025
Imelda_B
Grateful
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hide was amazing tour guide. He organised our itinerary very well.…
Apr 29, 2025
Imelda_B
Grateful
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hide was amazing tour guide. He organised our itinerary very well. Tell us about history and
culture of their country. Which is really good for a tourist like us it’s a good learning
opportunity. I highly recommend him. Thank a lot Hide from the bottom of our hearts.