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
- 9:30 Meet at OMO3 AKASAKA
- 10:05 Shinjuku Gyoen
- 12:00 Lunch @ Nagoya Binchou (Marunouchi Building)
- 13:00 Kokyo Gaien National Garden
- 13:30 Imperial Palace Inui Street
- 14:10 Imperial Palace East Gardens
- 15:15 Asakusa
- 15:30 Dismiss at Sumida Park
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at OMO3 AKASAKA at 9:30, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 15:30. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ Nagoya Binchou (Marunouchi Building) at 12:00.
The itinerary covered Shinjuku Gyoen at 10:05, Kokyo Gaien National Garden at 13:00, Imperial Palace Inui Street at 13:30, Imperial Palace East Gardens at 14:10 and Asakusa at 15:15.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Akasaka-mitsuke to Sendagaya by train (340JPY); Shinjuku-gyoemmae to Tokyo by train (210JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Asakusa by train (180JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 730JPY per person.
What Is a Private Cherry Blossom Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests visited Japan from North America. On a previous trip to Japan, they had been unable to see the cherry blossoms, so this time they came looking forward to seeing them. They had wished to stay in Asakusa, but it turned out during our correspondence that they had mistakenly booked a Hotel in a different part of the city under the same chain, so there were moments when some adjustments were needed.
As is the case every year, when the cherry blossoms are just beginning to bloom, it is often impossible to know the actual flowering conditions without checking on-site, so the preliminary scouting took a considerable amount of time.
During the actual tour, while the guests kindly understood that places such as the Imperial Palace Inui Street might require changes if crowded, we were able to visit all the locations they had hoped to see, and the guests exclaimed at the beauty of the cherry blossoms throughout the day. I would be delighted if they were able to spend a memorable day.
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 | Akasaka-mitsuke～Sendagaya | 340JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Shinjuku-gyoemmae～Tokyo | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Total | 730JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at OMO3 AKASAKA at 9:30, and the tour finished at Sumida Park at 15:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 9:30 to 15:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Shinjuku Gyoen, Kokyo Gaien National Garden, Imperial Palace Inui Street, Imperial Palace East Gardens and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 730JPY per person across 3 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?
Miho 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 Miho Ozawa, and I’ve been working as a government licenced guide interpreter for six years in Tokyo. I live in east Tokyo with my family, including my three children, and I love art, gardens, photography and traveling.
It’s such a pleasure to explore this fascinating city Tokyo with you. There are so many things you can do, although sometimes it’s hard to choose what to do within a limited time. I would really appreciate if you could let me know what you would like to do or where you would like to visit in Tokyo. I would be happy to help you plan to make your trip a memorable one. I’m forward to hearing from you and meeting you soon!
Apr 18, 2026
CRM
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Day 1 Japan Meiji Shrine, Shibuya
Miho was an amazing tour guide.…
Apr 18, 2026
CRM
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Day 1 Japan Meiji Shrine, Shibuya
Miho was an amazing tour guide. She was able to give us a history lesson along with seeing the great sights of Japan. We chose 3 locations and she researched them for us. Taking this tour day one of our trip made getting around the subway system so much better as Miho showed us what to do. Old recommend this tour 100%. Ask for Miho!
Mar 31, 2026
M
maaz06
Private Half Day tour with Government Licenced Guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our half day…
Mar 31, 2026
M
maaz06
Private Half Day tour with Government Licenced Guide
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our half day private tour with a Government Licenced guide was absolutely brilliant. Miho checked our ideas before the tour and created an itinerary to fit. Miho then adapted this tour as we went to match our needs. We saw a multitude of beautiful Cherry Blossons on the last half day in Japan. Miho helped us achieve our desire to see as many incredible Cherry Blossoms as was possible. She helped us at the end of the tour navigate our way back to our hotel with clear and decise directions on the public transport system. We thoroughly recommend this tour and Miho Ozawa as a guide.
Mar 31, 2026
Maria_A
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Brilliant half Day Private tour customized to see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms…
Mar 31, 2026
Maria_A
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Brilliant half Day Private tour customized to see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo
Our half day private tour with a Government Licenced guide was absolutely brilliant. Miho checked our ideas before the tour and created an itinerary to fit. Miho then adapted this tour as we went to match our needs. We saw a multitude of beautiful Cherry Blossons on the last half day in Japan. Miho helped us achieve our desire to see as many incredible Cherry Blossoms as was possible. She helped us at the end of the tour navigate our way back to our hotel with clear and decise directions on the public transport system. We thoroughly recommend this tour and Miho Ozawa as a guide.
Mar 31, 2026
Rick_G
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun day out with Miho
We had a great time exploring the…
Mar 31, 2026
Rick_G
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun day out with Miho
We had a great time exploring the city with Miho! She was very informative and a joy to walk the city with. She accommodated us with our itinerary and gave us great tips for our time in Tokyo. The full day flew by learning about Japanese history and Tokyo culture. She knows English very well and has a wealth of knowledge. She also took so many great pictures of us with the cherry blossom trees and suggested we visit certain locations that we hadn’t considered, which turned out to be highlights of our trip (Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, the Asakusa Observatory, and Inui Street). We could not recommend her enough!
We originally booked a tour with Mac but had to reschedule due to the weather. We want to make sure to include them in our praise?they were very responsive, flexible, and courteous before and during the rescheduling, and we’re sure we would have had a great time with them as well!
If you are going to be in Tokyo, we definitely recommend booking a full-day guided tour. You will learn a lot (and walk a lot!) and take home some great pictures!