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
- 9:30 Meet at hotel
- 9:50 Meiji Shrine
- 10:55 Tsukiji
- 12:10 Lunch (sushi)
- 13:10 Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- 14:30 Asakusa
- 16:00 Hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Meiji Shrine at 9:50, Tsukiji at 10:55, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden at 13:10 and Asakusa at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nishi-Shinjuku to Meiji-jingumae by subway (180JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Tsukiji by subway (210JPY); Tsukiji to Korakuen by subway (180JPY); Iidabashi to Asakusa by subway (220JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 790JPY per person.
What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, and Asakusa
The guests were visitors from North America. We first visited Meiji Shrine and then went to Tsukiji. In the heat, they wanted something cold, but since we were at a fish market, they also wanted to eat something related to fish — a first-time request for me — and Kibun's shrimp tempura (fish paste) was a perfect fit, and the guests were delighted, saying it was delicious! The guests also had a mango soft serve, while I had a black sesame soft serve. They were curious about the black soft serve, so I offered them a spoonful, and they said it tasted like peanut butter.
Then we went to Nemuro Hanamaru in Iidabashi and enjoyed a traditional conveyor-belt sushi experience. They also seemed to enjoy sorting the sushi plates and building a tower with them.
At Koishikawa Korakuen, they said it looked like Jurassic Park while walking through the woods, and they found the thatched-roof rest area unusual. At Senso-ji, they got absorbed in shopping and we ran a little behind schedule, but since they were tired and wanted to head back for a while, I took them to their hotel. They were very satisfied.
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 | Subway | Nishi-Shinjuku～Meiji-jingumae | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Tsukiji | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tsukiji～Korakuen | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Iidabashi～Asakusa | 220JPY |
| Total | 790JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Tsukiji, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 790JPY 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?
Sam 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.
Hi, I’m Sam.
I am happy to welcome you all to Japan.
Since I was a child, my parents welcomed many international students into our home and I had many opportunities to interact with them. My mother is a translator, and I have always seen her guiding foreigners around Japan, so it was natural for me to start doing the same.
I am good at guiding people to popular places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, as well as photogenic spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Since I was a child, I’ve watched anime like Pokémon and played Nintendo games, and I still buy around 100 manga comic books a month. I love shopping in Akihabara! I currently live in Urayasu City, Chiba, so close that I can see fireworks from Disneyland from my house every night.
Please feel free to ask me anything!
Sep 26, 2026
Carl_W
Tokyo city tour custom
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Sam was very knowledgeable and…
Sep 26, 2026
Carl_W
Tokyo city tour custom
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Sam was very knowledgeable and accommodating. She knew about all of the city and train system and food
Sep 7, 2026
782alessandrof
Sam was amazing
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
It was a very rainy day…
Sep 7, 2026
782alessandrof
Sam was amazing
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
It was a very rainy day and Sam went above and beyond to make sure we had the greatest experience and we stayed mostly dry. She chose an amazing ramen restaurant and made us feel cared for and very comfortable. She talked a lot about the history and the culture and it is clear that she is very passionate about her job. When we come back to Tokyo, we will request her again.
Aug 24, 2026
596vincentz
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Sam was an star tour guide for us
our Guide Sam was…
Aug 24, 2026
596vincentz
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Family-Friendly Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Sam was an star tour guide for us
our Guide Sam was amazing! she was really flexible with us and try to look out for our need during the trip and went above and beyond to help make our trip a smooth experience.
Aug 10, 2026
piperl686
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Honeymoon Tour in Tokyo
We are so happy that…
Aug 10, 2026
piperl686
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Honeymoon Tour in Tokyo
We are so happy that we got to experience Tokyo with Sam (Sayumi) as our tour guide! She was so friendly, helpful, and brimming with fun facts. We really appreciated that after giving her a draft itinerary, she provided great recommendations about how to maximize our experience on the tour. She also went above and beyond to help us find a few specific items on our shopping list in Shibuya and Shinjuku, and went out of her way to take us to several One Piece stores because we mentioned it was a favorite show of ours. Overall we are so pleased and would highly recommend Sam to anyone looking to have a blast in Tokyo!