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
- 14:30 Started 30 minutes late, met at the hotel lobby and after discussing the schedule, headed to Tameike-Sanno Station
- 15:15 Arrived at Meiji-Jingumae Station via Omotesando, after visiting the shrine headed to Harajuku Station
- 16:20 Arrived at Shibuya Station. After visiting the Scramble Crossing and the Hachiko statue, headed to Ginza Line Shibuya Station
- 17:40 Arrived at Asakusa Station. After stopping by a shoe store near the station, disbanded at 18:15 upon request
What Is a Private Rainy-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, and Asakusa
After finishing a morning sumo stable visit, the guests were delayed in returning to the hotel due to road congestion, so the tour began about 30 minutes later than originally scheduled.
As it was raining today, I explained to the guests that the itinerary would be adjusted flexibly depending on the weather conditions, and after receiving their agreement, we headed to the first stop, Meiji Shrine. We took the subway from Tameike-Sanno Station via Omotesando to Meiji-Jingumae Station, and then visited Meiji Shrine. During the visit, I provided explanations about Emperor Meiji, Shinto, and shrines.
Afterward, since the guests had little interest in Takeshita Street, I confirmed their wishes and we skipped the visit. We then took the JR line to Shibuya and viewed the Scramble Crossing and the Hachiko statue. The guests showed strong interest and were particularly moved by Hachiko's loyalty.
Next, we traveled the entire Ginza subway line to Asakusa. Along the way, one of the guests' shoes had become wet from the rain, so there was a request to stop by a shoe store. I searched for shops near Asakusa Station while on the subway, and we stopped by so a pair of shoes could be purchased.
After that, as a result of the guests contacting an acquaintance, it became necessary to reach a ticket office in Marunouchi by 19:00 that day, so they suddenly needed to travel by taxi. For this reason, although we were still partway through the itinerary, the guests expressed their wish to cancel the remaining guiding, and we parted ways in front of Asakusa Station.
Although today's tour was limited to two locations, the guests showed strong interest at each place we visited, and even though the time was shortened, overall they appeared to have been satisfied.
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 | Tameike-Sanno～Meiji-Jingumae Station／Shibuya Ward, Tokyo | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 160JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Shibuya～Asakusa | 260JPY |
| Total | 600JPY | ||
Self-Background
During my university years, I lived in a dormitory for four years and had the opportunity to live with many international students.
Of course, we spoke English.
After graduating from university, I started working as an English teacher at a junior high school.
I was able to have a fun teaching life while interacting with many students. During that time, I continued to study English on my own and obtained the pre-1st grade English proficiency test.
After that, I worked for the Board of Education as a supervisor in charge of English education, and then managed a school as a vice principal, and later principal.
After retiring from teaching, I took the TOEIC (L&R) and achieved my highest score of 945.
I also obtained a license as a national guide-interpreter, and began working as a guide for overseas visitors in English.
Currently, I guide tourists to several places around the country.
Many customers have told me that I am a good guide, saying that my guidance is easy to understand and that I have a lot of knowledge about sightseeing spots and history.
Furthermore, I will continue to improve my skills and make efforts to give you a better experience in Japan, so please come and enjoy your trip in Japan with me.