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. 9:00 Meet up @ Tokyo International Cruise Terminal
- 2. 10:00 @ Imperial Palace (Sakuradamon Gate, Nijubashi Bridge, Main Gate)
- 3.10:45 @ Tokyo Station (Station Plaza, Marunouchi side of the station building)
- 4. 11:30 Lunch @ Tsukiji Outer Market
- 5.12:40 @ Higashi-Ginza (Jugetsudo Tsukiji Store, Kabukiza Theatre, Kobikicho Tully's Cafe)
- 6. 13:20 @ Ginza (Ginza Mitsukoshi Underground Food Hall, 4-chome Intersection, NISSAN Showroom, Onitsuka Tiger, GSIX)
- 7. 15:00 Disband @ Yurikamome Line Shimbashi Station Platform
What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for Cruise Ship Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe on their first trip to Japan, traveling as a group. They had already toured various parts of Japan by cruise ship, including Hiroshima, Osaka, Kanazawa, and Aomori, with Tokyo being their final sightseeing destination. They did not visit Kyoto, but in Kanazawa they had taken part in a tea ceremony performed by a woman in traditional Japanese kimono, and they kindly showed me a video of it. When I met them and asked about their preferred destinations, one of the guests was not feeling fully well after catching a cold, and they wished to avoid waiting in long lines for sightseeing in the heat, so I planned a relaxed itinerary without trying to do too much. After visiting the Imperial Palace, I guided them, as requested, to a sushi lunch at Tsukiji and then to Ginza. At Tsukiji we had lunch at a sushi restaurant, but there was an incident in which something like a cellophane cover was found mixed into the salad. The guests said they did not mind and ate it as it was, but as a guide I informed the restaurant of the situation. A sushi chef then came to the table to apologize, and it was decided that the salad would not be charged. The guests enjoyed the sushi lunch, including a tempura appetizer. After that, the focus was mainly on shopping. First, one of the guests, who liked matcha, purchased matcha at the Tsukiji branch of Jugetsudo. After one of the guests had coffee at the Tully's in the basement of Kobikicho near the Kabukiza Theater, in Ginza one of the guests purchased three pairs of shoes at Onitsuka Tiger and a very high-end brand wristwatch at GINZA SIX. They mentioned that back home there is a 19% consumption tax, so buying in Japan was much cheaper for them. They planned to return to the cruise ship for a while and then come back to Ginza in the evening, so to make it easy for them, I explained how to access it by taking the Yurikamome Line from Shimbashi, and we said goodbye at the Shimbashi Station of the Yurikamome Line.
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 | Other | Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Station～Toyosu Station | 330JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Yurakucho Line Toyosu Station～Sakuradamon Gate | 900JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line Tokyo Station～Tsukiji Station | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Higashi-Ginza Station～Ginza Station | 0JPY |
| Section 5 | Free Pass | Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Ginza Station～Shimbashi Station | 0JPY |
| Total | 1,230JPY | ||
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….