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 Meet at the hotel, board the taxi
- 9:45 Sengakuji Temple, Ako Gishi Memorial Museum
- 11:30 Lunch
- 12:45 Imperial Palace
- 14:00 Disperse
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Sengakuji Temple, Ako Gishi Memorial Museum at 9:45, Imperial Palace at 12:45 and Disperse at 14:00.
Title: Can You Do a Private Tour of Sengakuji Temple and the Imperial Palace in Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Oceania. Originally, the plan had been to visit Asakusa, but two days beforehand they contacted me to say, "We watched a movie about the Ako Roshi, so we would like to go to Sengakuji Temple and the Imperial Palace," and the itinerary was changed at short notice.
Since I had never had guests request Sengakuji before, and because there were younger members in the group, I explained that "these are the graves of real historical figures, and we must show the utmost respect." In response, they told me that the Maori also have such important places and that they fully understand the value of showing respect. The film they had watched was "47 Ronin" starring Keanu Reeves, which differs from the historical record, but they had remembered the names of the main figures, so the explanations went smoothly. Sengakuji Temple is very welcoming to foreign visitors, and on occasion a monk explained things to us directly in English.
They were especially moved to hear the story of Oishi Chikara, the son of Oishi Kuranosuke, who had only just come of age and died at the age of sixteen, and they sympathized with how young he had been.
The group offered incense at the graves of Asano Takumi-no-kami, Yozenin, and all forty-seven retainers, and viewed the entire memorial hall and the display of wooden figures. They thanked me, saying they could never have come here on their own.
Then, at the group's strong request, we went to see the site of the Corridor of the Pines (Matsu no Oroka) at the Imperial Palace, where they reflected deeply, thinking, "So this is where the sword incident took place…"
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
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!
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience.…
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience. Sayumi-San (Sam) was an absolutely amazing tour guide. She met me at my hotel and was a complete professional from the word ‘go.’ We did a good amount of walking to the sights/sites and rode the train to some places that were farther away from each other. Sam was very knowledgeable about the history of Japan and the places we visited. She was very respectful of my interests and curated a tour that fit well with what I wanted to see. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her and the tour.
The six hour tour included lunch. I recommend bringing water, though, while walking around and bringing a hat or small umbrella because the sun can be brutal. Finally, wear comfortable shoes.
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our…
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our requests and made them into a
manageable itinerary. She was wonderful with our daughter, too! Highly recommended.
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She…
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She meticulously coordinated our itinerary based on our preferences and included great local places to eat that were reasonably priced and delicious. Her insights and own personal experiences made the visit extra special.
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an…
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an amazing time in our tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, professional and friendly. We hit all of the main sites in Tokyo. Each stop our guide walked us through the experience and we felt immersed in the local culture. Would highly recommend this tour guide.