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
- 9:00 Hotel Tokyu
- 9:15-10:20 Meiji Shrine, plus 15 minutes of shopping
- 11:00-12:30 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 12:30-13:30 Lunch @ Maruya in Palace Building for tonkatsu
- 14:00-15:15 Asakusa
- Guide to Suehirocho and disband 15:30
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Hotel Tokyu at 9:00, Meiji Shrine, plus 15 minutes of shopping at 9:15, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 11:00 and Asakusa at 14:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shibuya Station to Harajuku by train (150JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Otemachi by Free Pass (700JPY); Otemachi to Asakusa by Free Pass (0JPY); Asakusa to Suehirocho by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 850JPY per person.
A Private One-Day Tokyo Tour with a Licensed Guide: Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa
The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had no particular requests regarding sightseeing spots or food, so we followed the itinerary I recommended, visiting Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa, with a tonkatsu lunch. At the Imperial Palace, the irises in the East Gardens were at their peak, which the guests greatly enjoyed. Since we started an hour earlier than planned, we were able to finish the sightseeing without being caught in heavy rain.
The guests listened very attentively to my explanations, which made it very easy to guide them.
After seeing Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan, the group planned to travel from the Kansai area to visit relatives abroad, continuing on to other destinations in Asia.
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 Station～Harajuku | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Meiji-jingumae～Otemachi | 700JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Otemachi～Asakusa | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Suehirocho | 0JPY |
| Total | 850JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel Tokyu, Meiji Shrine, plus 15 minutes of shopping, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 850JPY per person across 4 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?
Maki 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.
Hello!
I’m Maki. Nice to meet you.
I used to work at a travel agency as a tour escort so I have traveled to more than 50 countries and all 47 prefectures in Japan.
When I came back to Japan from abroad, I always noticed virtues in Japan anew.
I’m thrilled to introduce such kinds of stories and favorite places to you.
I like bar hopping, cooking, history, and outdoor activities such as camping, cycling.
I have a licence of International Sake Sommlier and Wine Expert. I’m happy if I would have a chance to introduce you about sake and wine.
I’m also a mother of junior high school girl. Let’s have fun together!
Oct 9, 2025
301catherinep
Fabulous customised tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised…
Oct 9, 2025
301catherinep
Fabulous customised tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki is a wonderful, well informed guide. She customised the tour for me and made six
hours fly by. I got a fabulous overview of the city and tips on where else to visit. Plus some
help with my onward travel. Highly recommended.
Oct 2, 2025
Gene L
Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and…
Oct 2, 2025
Gene L
Our 6 hour tour with Maki was fantastic
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
My wife and I enjoyed this tour immensely. Maki was absolutely great. If you want to get oriented in Tokyo take this tour first. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and considerate to our needs for seeing the best of Tokyo in one day. I would recommend this tour on the first day to experience negotiating the Tokyo Metro and famous sights.
Aug 31, 2025
T
tmay2921
Maki is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring…
Aug 31, 2025
T
tmay2921
Maki is the best!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an absolutely wonderful day exploring Tokyo with Maki. She curated the tour perfectly to our interests, blending culture, history, and hidden gems that we never would have discovered on our own. We left the tour with a much deeper appreciation for Tokyo and Japanese culture.
Thank you so much, Maki, for such an amazing tour—we’re truly grateful and would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting!
Jul 12, 2025
O6400ONsaram
Maki san kakkoii desu
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki was generous and flexible! She met us…
Jul 12, 2025
O6400ONsaram
Maki san kakkoii desu
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Maki was generous and flexible! She met us at our hotel, helped us understand the subway
system, and made a dinner reservation. She made our first day in Japan memorable and
put us at ease for the rest of our trip. Thank you, Maki!