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
- 12:00 Hilton Tokyo
- 12:30 Meiji Shrine
- 13:40 Harajuku Takeshita Street
- 15:10 Asakusa Ramen Tanaka Soba
- 15:50 Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street
- 17:20 Ginza Mitsukoshi
- 18:20 Hilton Tokyo
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Hilton Tokyo at 12:00, Meiji Shrine at 12:30, Harajuku Takeshita Street at 13:40, Asakusa Ramen Tanaka Soba at 15:10, Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street at 15:50, Ginza Mitsukoshi at 17:20 and Hilton Tokyo at 18:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ginza to Nishi-Shinjuku by subway (210JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 210JPY per person.
Can You Do a Private Tokyo Tour with Limited Walking? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and Ginza
The guests were visitors from North America. I had heard beforehand that one of the guests had a knee condition, and just before the tour one of the guests sprained an ankle, arriving with a small folding chair that was used as a walking aid. Because of this, we traveled mostly by taxi and only used the subway once, at the end when returning to the Hotel. Since no treatment had been done, we stopped at a drugstore to buy a compress, and I applied it for them.
At Meiji Shrine, when I explained the ema votive plaques, one of the guests became interested and dedicated one. On Takeshita Street, the guests enjoyed a strawberry candy and brown sugar tapioca. For lunch, the guests said they wanted ramen, so I took them to a soba and ramen shop in Asakusa, and they were very satisfied. When I showed them how to find good restaurants using Google Maps, they were amazed at just how many ramen shops there were.
After having ice cream in Asakusa, we had planned to visit the Imperial Palace, but since walking seemed difficult, I took them to the basement food floor of a department store in Ginza, where they tasted and purchased matcha. I had many nice conversations with the guests, and at the end they told me it had been a very good tour.
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 | Ginza～Nishi-Shinjuku | 210JPY |
| Total | 210JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hilton Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku Takeshita Street, Asakusa Ramen Tanaka Soba, Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street, Ginza Mitsukoshi and Hilton Tokyo.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 210JPY per person across 1 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?
Takako 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 Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
Please let me know what interests you.
I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
Looking forward to meeting you!!
Jul 21, 2026
Z222TCshannonr
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
Our wonderful guide,…
Jul 21, 2026
Z222TCshannonr
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
Our wonderful guide, Takako, took us on a tour of Tokyo. She helped us create a plan based on our interests and was flexible when we needed to change the itinerary a bit due to extreme heat. She was friendly, informative, and helpful. We enjoyed learning about Japanese culture and history from Takako, and we saw amazing temples and ate delicious sushi. I highly recommend this tour and Takako as a guide!
Jul 9, 2026
cronima2
Perfectly guided day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had an amazing day with…
Jul 9, 2026
cronima2
Perfectly guided day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had an amazing day with Takako. Takako got in contact prior to our tour to create the perfect itinerary. She collected us from our hotel and helped us get our travel cards and showed us how to use the public transport. Takako altered our tour and took us to Harajuku Takeshite street, which our teenagers really enjoyed. Takako was really informative and friendly and made the day really enjoyable. We would have no hesitation in booking her again. Takako showed us more in 6 hours than we would have seen in a week if left to our own devices. Thanks Takako and we will watch The Transporter!
Jul 3, 2026
johnoD792VT
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Guide!
Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on…
Jul 3, 2026
johnoD792VT
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Guide!
Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on the places we visited and picked a delicious ramen shop for lunch. We really appreciated her thorough communication and friendly demeanor.
Jul 3, 2026
71nidhim
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main…
Jul 3, 2026
71nidhim
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main attractions with care and detail. We would highly recommend doing this activity.