Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine — Guide Yoko
July, 2024
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
- 10:30 Meet up @Hilton Tokyo
- @Shinjuku
- 12:00 Meiji Shrine
- 13:30 @Transparent Toilet
- 14:00 Lunch @Oreryu Shio Ramen
- @Shimokitazawa
- 16:30 Disband @Kasumigaseki Station Platform
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:30 at @Hilton Tokyo and ended at 16:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @Oreryu Shio Ramen at 14:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine at 12:00 and Transparent Toilet at 13:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Harajuku by train (150JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Yoyogi Park by subway (180JPY); Yoyogi-Hachiman to Shimokitazawa by train (210JPY); Shimokitazawa to Kasumigaseki by train (350JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 890JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Tokyo Like, Including Shinjuku and Shimokitazawa? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Europe. Initially I had planned to guide them around Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku, but they said they would visit Shibuya, Harajuku, and Asakusa on their own. After exchanging several emails about where to go instead, we decided on Shimokitazawa.
Starting on foot from their hotel in West Shinjuku, I guided them around the Shinjuku area, and since they wanted to try crane games, I took them to an arcade. After several attempts they managed to win a small plush toy, which was great. Since they did not have IC cards, I helped them purchase one at Shinjuku Station.
I had planned lunch after visiting Meiji Shrine, but they said they had eaten a lot at the breakfast buffet and were not hungry yet. So we skipped lunch in Harajuku and headed straight to Shimokitazawa. On the way, while transferring on the Odakyu Line, I introduced them to the transparent restrooms. In Shimokitazawa, we had lunch and then went around vintage clothing shops and general goods stores. It was nice that they were able to buy some clothes at a vintage shop. Since they had a reservation for TeamLab at Azabudai Hills in the evening, I saw them off at the Hibiya Line platform and we parted ways.
The forecast for the day was rain all day, but there were periods when it stopped, so we were able to follow the itinerary as planned, which was a relief. With heavy rain on some days recently, I felt that there may be times when I need to change destinations or adapt flexibly depending on the situation.
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 | Shinjuku～Harajuku | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Yoyogi Park | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Yoyogi-Hachiman～Shimokitazawa | 210JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shimokitazawa～Kasumigaseki | 350JPY |
| Total | 890JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @Hilton Tokyo at 10:30, and the tour finished at @Kasumigaseki Station Platform at 16:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 10:30 to 16:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine and Transparent Toilet.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 890JPY 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?
Yoko 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.
I’m Yoko Kusumoto, a government lisenced English-speaking guide.
I have been living in Tokyo for more than 20 years, and it’s my pleasure to show you around Tokyo. I recommend Meiji Shrine and Asakusa if you are first time in Japan. I also recommend off-the-beaton path spots like Fukagawa Fudodo and Gotokuji Temple(lucky cat temple).
I was born and brought up in Kamakura, where the first shogun’s government was established. It will be my pleasure to introduce you my hometown as well.
I live with my husband and one teenage son.
I like traveling, flowers, sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, and exploring Tokyo.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sep 22, 2026
grenfell69
Half-day tour of Tokyo
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grenfell69
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Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
While visiting Tokyo we chose the Customized half-day tour . Our local guide, Yoko, met us early morning at our hotel. She was punctual, welcoming and very well prepared for our tour . We navigated the subway and train stations with ease under her capable guidance! Yoko set the right pace which enabled us to experience so much of the city . She is so knowledgeable of the culture and history of Japan! Her tour was definitely a highlight of our trip.
Jun 2, 2026
ericahT6840AD
Awesome!
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Our day with Yoko was great! She took us to some…
Jun 2, 2026
ericahT6840AD
Awesome!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our day with Yoko was great! She took us to some great spots in Tokyo and was so helpful.
We would highly recommend her as a guide. If we are back, we will certainly request her
again!
May 20, 2026
CharKris17
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We did a six-hour walking tour of Tokyo with Yoko and she was an exceptional guide. We saw multiple shrines (Meiji Shrine is a must see), the Imperial Palace, the “crossing” (there is a similar intersection in the Ginza shopping district which was also cool), the Tokyo Station, and the outer market where we ordered some fatty toro nigiri which was an etherial experience. Can’t say enough good things about Yoko. She taught ys a ton about the history of Japan and had a great sense of humor. A+
May 3, 2026
jefftK1794VZ
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Fantastic day exploring Tokyo
This was our first time visiting Tokyo and…
May 3, 2026
jefftK1794VZ
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Fantastic day exploring Tokyo
This was our first time visiting Tokyo and spending a day with Yoko as our guide was perhaps the best decision we could have made. Even before we arrived we traded messages with Yoko about what we might like to do. She offered valuable tips which made not only our time in Tokyo more efficient but while in Japan as a whole. We saw so many amazing things but Yoko also gave us a primer in using the Tokyo subway system and navigating some of the stations. I could go on and list all the things we did but each tour will be different. However I would highly recommend Yoko as a guide. Perhaps serendipitous, but we were stopped on the street the day after we toured with Yoko by a couple who had a list of things to do but was unsure how to go about doing the things on their list and where those things were located. I was thankful we chose the best guide so we didn’t have that problem.