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
- 09:00 Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei
- 09:10 Hotel
- 09:50 Parkview Garden
- 10:15 Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge
- 10:30 Imperial Palace East Gardens
- 11:45 Tokyo Station
- 12:10 Yanaka Ginza
- 13:10 Yanaka Cemetery
- 13:35 Nezu "Hantei"
- 14:50 Nezu Shrine
- 15:05 Disband at Nezu Shrine
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei at 09:00, Parkview Garden at 09:50, Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge at 10:15, Imperial Palace East Gardens at 10:30, Tokyo Station at 11:45, Yanaka Ginza at 12:10, Yanaka Cemetery at 13:10, Nezu "Hantei" at 13:35 and Nezu Shrine at 14:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Asakusa to Hibiya by train (209JPY); Tokyo to Nippori by train (167JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 376JPY per person.
What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo's Imperial Palace, Yanaka, and Nezu Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America, staying at an onsen inn in Asakusa, and were very interested in Japanese history and culture. During our walk around the Imperial Palace, they asked many questions and our conversation flowed well. I was a little surprised when, prefaced with "This may be a difficult question, but…," they asked whether the common understanding in their home region that the attack on Pearl Harbor was a "sneak attack" was truly accurate. I drew on all the knowledge I had and answered sincerely and in accordance with the facts, and it was memorable that they were pleased, saying they had gained new understanding.
We were blessed with fine weather, but the temperature rose to nearly midsummer levels, so we took short breaks now and then and tried to walk in the shade as much as possible. Even so, we were able to cover quite a distance, reaching the East Gardens around the Imperial Palace and, in the Yanaka area, going all the way to the grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu.
The guests were also looking forward to the food, so after discussing it in advance, I made a reservation for a late lunch at Hantei in Nezu. In addition to the age and atmosphere of the building, they were delighted with the delicious kushiage of unusual ingredients served little by little, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Finally, I took them to Nezu Shrine, where the tour concluded on site.
At the start of the tour, I had taken them to the Parkview Garden at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya so they could see the full view of the Imperial Palace, but it was a little unfortunate that the facility was under inspection and we could not go out onto the terrace (fortunately, the guests did not mind).
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 | Asakusa～Hibiya | 209JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Tokyo～Nippori | 167JPY |
| Total | 376JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei, Parkview Garden, Imperial Palace Nijubashi Bridge, Imperial Palace East Gardens, Tokyo Station, Yanaka Ginza, Yanaka Cemetery, Nezu "Hantei" and Nezu Shrine.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 376JPY per person across 2 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.