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 Meiji Shrine
- 10:00 Shibuya Hachiko, Crossing
- 10:50 Kagurazaka, Zenkokuji Temple
- 11:30 Lunch @ Uokin
- 13:10 Rikugien Garden
- 14:20 Yanaka Ginza
- 15:40 Disband @ In front of Ueno Matsuzakaya
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine at 9:00, Shibuya Hachiko, Crossing at 10:00, Kagurazaka, Zenkokuji Temple at 10:50, Rikugien Garden at 13:10 and Yanaka Ginza at 14:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Harajuku to Shibuya by train (150JPY); Shibuya to Kagurazaka by subway (210JPY); Iidabashi to Komagome by subway (180JPY); Komagome to Nippori by train (150JPY); Sendagi 3-chome by bus (210JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 900JPY per person.
Title: What's a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Kagurazaka, and Rikugien Garden
On their second day in Japan, [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guided lively guests visiting from North America around Tokyo. At Meiji Shrine, the guests each dedicated an ema votive tablet and enjoyed drawing waka-poem omikuji fortunes. Because they were hoping for something off the beaten path, I included Kagurazaka in the itinerary, and they loved its wonderful atmosphere. At Uokin they enjoyed beer, oden, tofu with green seaweed, and a scallop cream croquette served as an appetizer; although they looked a little uneasy before entering the restaurant, they were delighted to find everything delicious. At Rikugien Garden the autumn leaves had just begun to turn, and the guests were moved, saying they preferred it to the gardens of the Imperial Palace. Since they wanted to see as many places as possible, we met at Meiji Shrine, and after parting at Ueno they said they would explore Ueno Park on their own before heading to Tokyo Tower, so I wrote down directions for them. As they were not very comfortable with smartphones, they asked me to help book their Skytree tickets for the following day, which I did. At the end they told me it had been a wonderful tour, and we said goodbye with a hug.
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 | Harajuku～Shibuya | 150JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shibuya～Kagurazaka | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Iidabashi～Komagome | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Komagome～Nippori | 150JPY |
| Section 5 | Bus | Sendagi 3-chome / Toei Bus～In front of Ueno Matsuzakaya (Chuo-dori) / Toei Bus | 210JPY |
| Total | 900JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Hachiko, Crossing, Kagurazaka, Zenkokuji Temple, Rikugien Garden and Yanaka Ginza.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 900JPY per person across 5 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.