Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Lance

December, 2025

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

  • 1.10.00-1110 Sensouji Temple　
  • 2.11:30-11:50 Lunch
  • 3.11.50-12.50 Imperial Palace Garden
  • 4.13.20-14.10 MeijiJinguShrine　
  • 5.14.40-15.10 Gotokuji Temple
  • 6.15:30 disband at Yoyogi Uehara Station

Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the East Gardens, Meiji Shrine, and Gotokuji Temple

The guests were a group visiting from North America. Their home region is a Spanish-speaking area where the pharmaceutical industry is well developed, and I learned that roasting a whole pig is a traditional Christmas dish there. At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, one of the guests asked, "Are the descendants of the Tokugawa family still alive?" I answered, "Yes, they are still living, and there have been calls to reconstruct the castle keep." The response was, "That makes sense — it would be a great tourist attraction." I jokingly added, "Osaka Castle still stands today, but it is said to have been built by the Obayashi Corporation." One of the guests then asked, "Who was more highly regarded, ninja or samurai?" I explained, "There was a class system of samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants, and ninja were considered below that." The guests looked surprised. At Meiji Shrine, I was asked, "Is Meiji the name of an emperor?" I answered, "It is a name based on the era called the Meiji period. The current emperor's name is Naruhito, but he could also be referred to as the Reiwa emperor." At Gotokuji Temple, I asked, "Remember how I said I would give you a quiz later, since you often see beckoning-cat souvenirs in Asakusa? Can you tell the difference from the cats in Asakusa?" I explained, "The cat at Gotokuji does not hold a gold coin. Money does not necessarily bring happiness, but meeting people brings true happiness." The guests nodded deeply in understanding. When we parted at Yoyogi-Uehara, the tip was given in dollars.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1SubwayAsakusa～Otemachi (Tokyo)180JPY
Section 2SubwayTakebashi～Takadanobaba180JPY
Section 3TrainTakadanobaba～Harajuku170JPY
Section 4TrainMeiji-jingumae～Miyanosaka490JPY
Section 5TrainMiyanosaka～Yoyogi-Uehara330JPY
Total1,350JPY

Tour Report by Lance

I have been working as a tour guide once a week since 2024.
I grew up in Osaka and studied in Kyoto,
I have been working for the lvestock division of the national organization of agricultural cooperatives.
Japan depends on imports for most of its livestock feed ingredients.
I visited 10 countries on business and stayed in New Orleans working for a subsidiary company for 3 years.
I visited 10 other countries with my wife for sightseeing.
I also started writing Haiku, Japanese traditional poem, after retiring.
One of my favorite is ” Bundled up, you are like a Matryoshka.”
Looking forward to see you!

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Sep 24, 2026
benoitlJ9021HN
Perfect guide tour in Tokyo
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Sep 19, 2026
H1282JBkarinas
Great tour with Lance from Japan Guide Agency!
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Sep 10, 2026
Silver_F
amazing 8-hour walking tour with Lance!
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