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
- 10:00 Meet at Hotel Peninsula. Walk from Sakuradamon through Nijubashi to visit the Imperial Palace, then head to Otemachi Station.
- 11:30 Arrive at Meiji-jingumae Station, visit Meiji Shrine, walk to Shibuya Scramble Crossing, see the Hachiko statue, then head to Ginza Line Shibuya Station.
- 13:00 Arrive at Ginza Line Ueno Station, stroll through Ueno Park and Shinobazu Pond, then head to Ginza Line Ueno Station.
- 14:25 Arrive at Asakusa Station, visit Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple, and cherry blossoms along the Sumida River embankment, then head to Asakusa Station.
- 15:40 Arrive at Ginza Station, disband
What's a Full-Day Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, Ueno, and Asakusa
Today I guided the guests, who are based in North America. Up until two days earlier they had been unwell, apparently due to food poisoning, and I had been consulted about possibly changing the schedule. However, I received word the day before that they had recovered, so today we proceeded as planned. When we met today they were in good condition and expressed a wish to walk as much as possible, so I arranged an itinerary centered on walking. Since the hotel was located in Hibiya, we walked from Sakuradamon, passed by the Nijubashi Bridge, and continued to the Otemon Gate. After that, we took the subway from Otemachi to Meiji-jingumae and visited Meiji Shrine. After the visit, we walked to Shibuya and saw the Scramble Crossing and the statue of Hachiko. They already knew the story of Hachiko in advance. Next, we moved to Ueno on the Ginza Line and enjoyed cherry blossom viewing at Ueno Park and Shinobazu Pond. At times we could even see petals dancing in the wind, and we were able to enjoy the blossoms. We also had food from the stalls for lunch. We then took the subway from Ueno Station to Asakusa and visited Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise, and Sensoji Temple. Finally, we enjoyed cherry blossom viewing along the Sumida River embankment. The blossoms were in their final stage and some had already turned to leaves, but the conditions were still good enough to enjoy fully. At the end of the tour, the guests expressed a wish to return to the hotel while shopping in Ginza, so although it was within the scheduled time, we parted ways inside Ginza Station. The guests appeared to be impressed by the tranquility of Meiji Shrine, the beauty of its buildings, and the size of the torii gate, and overall they seemed very 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 | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Meiji-jingumae Station / Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shibuya～Ueno | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Ueno～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Asakusa～Ginza | 210JPY |
| Total | 810JPY | ||
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.