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. 11:00 Meet up @ Hotel Nihonbashi Premier
- 2. 11:30 @ Asakusa (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Azumabashi Bridge)
- 3. 13:00 @ Ginza (Kyukyodo, NISSAN Showroom, Ginza 4-chome Intersection, Ginza Chuo-dori)
- 4. 13:15 @ Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
- 5. 14:00 @ Tokyo Station
- 6. 14:30 Lunch @ Tokyo Station
- 7. 15:15 @ Tokyo Station Midori no Madoguchi
- 8. 16:40 @ Meiji Shrine
- 9. 17:20 @ Shibuya (Scramble Crossing, Hachiko Statue)
- 10. 17:45 Disband @ Ginza Line Shibuya Station
Title: What's a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Ginza, Shibuya, and Tokyo Station
Body:
[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guided a private walking tour of Tokyo for guests visiting from Europe. One of the guests had visited Japan about ten years earlier, while it was the first visit to Japan for the group as a whole. After Tokyo, they planned to enjoy views of Mount Fuji from the shores of Lake Kawaguchi, then travel to Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka before catching their return flight.
Along the tour route, I helped the guests purchase train tickets at the JR ticket office at Tokyo Station. Since we started from a point where nothing had been reserved yet, it took some time, but the guests were greatly reassured, as their anxieties about the rest of their itinerary were resolved. That made it worthwhile.
In Ginza, when I briefly introduced the Kyukyodo stationery shop and started to walk on, the guests showed strong interest, so we went inside, where they purchased many items such as postcards, decorative gift envelopes, and cards. The guests were also interested in the cars displayed at the NISSAN showroom. As their professional field involved glass, while walking along Ginza's main street they explained to me, as their guide, the glass facades of various buildings. They took many photographs.
On the day they arrived in Japan, the day before this tour, the guests had already taken a double-decker sightseeing bus around Tokyo. However, although explanations of the sights were provided, they were sometimes hard to hear, and some places were difficult to make out from the moving bus. For example, the Hachiko statue in Shibuya was not visible at all from the bus, and it was only through today's walking tour that they were able to see it on foot for the first time — they realized this was what yesterday's explanation had referred to.
For lunch near Tokyo Station, the three of us sat side by side at the counter and had cold bukkake udon topped with egg and chikuwa tempura. Cold udon seemed to be a new experience, and they were very pleased, saying that the chikuwa tempura was also delicious. Since the three of us happened to be of a similar generation, our conversation flowed easily on a variety of topics.
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 Mitsukoshimae Station～Asakusa Station | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Asakusa Station～Ginza Station | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Ginza-itchome Station～Sakuradamon Station | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Nihombashi Station～Chiyoda Line Meiji-jingumae Station | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station～Shibuya Station | 150JPY |
| Total | 850JPY | ||
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
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Full Day Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle from Yokohama
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
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo in 4 hours
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
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely experience. My…
Lovely experience. My guide was an absolutely adorable lady…
Jun 16, 2026
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….