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 Meet at Hotel Monday Apart Premium Ueno, walk to Ueno subway station (after purchasing PASMO cards for children and adults, board the Ginza Line subway) to Asakusa station
- 10:00 Arrive at Asakusa station, visit Kaminarimon, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple, cherry blossom viewing along the Sumida River embankment, head to Asakusa Pier
- 11:40 Depart from Asakusa Pier, take a sightseeing boat to Hamarikyu Gardens, after touring have lunch near Shimbashi station
- 13:50 Arrive at Shimbashi station, take the Yamanote Line to Tokyo station
- 14:00 Arrive at Tokyo station, walk along Gyoko-dori to visit the Imperial Palace (centered on Nijubashi), walk to Hibiya station
- 15:10 Arrive at Iriya station, disband in front of the hotel
What Does a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Cover? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Hama-rikyu, and the Imperial Palace
Today I guided a group visiting from North America who planned to stay in Japan for a few days.
Since the group would be staying in Japan for several days, we purchased transportation IC cards (PASMO). Please note that obtaining a child PASMO required a passport check and processing at the commuter pass counter, so it took a little extra time.
We traveled by subway from Ueno to Asakusa, where we visited Kaminarimon, Nakamise-dori, and Senso-ji Temple. Afterward, we moved to the embankment of the Sumida River. The cherry blossoms were just past full bloom, but the guests watched the petals dancing in the wind with fascination, exclaiming "Beautiful" and showing strong interest.
Next, we boarded a sightseeing boat from the Asakusa pier and cruised down the Sumida River toward Hama-rikyu. During the trip on the water, they enjoyed a variety of scenery, including the bridges and views along the riverbanks.
At Hama-rikyu, varieties of cherry blossoms other than Somei-Yoshino, as well as various other flowers, were at their best, and the guests appeared to enjoy taking photographs.
After the visit, we walked to Shimbashi Station, and in line with their wish to eat ramen, we had lunch at a ramen restaurant. They shared that Japanese ramen was "delicious."
Afterward, we traveled by JR to Tokyo Station and walked to the Imperial Palace. We strolled along Gyoko-dori and took commemorative photos in front of Nijubashi. After the visit, we walked to Hibiya Station, took the subway to Iriya Station, and parted ways at the front entrance of the Hotel.
Overall, the guests appeared very satisfied, particularly with the Sumida River cruise, the flowers at Hama-rikyu, and the ramen lunch.
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 | Ueno～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Ferry | Asakusa (Water Bus)～Hamarikyu (Water Bus) | 940JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shimbashi～Tokyo | 160JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Hibiya～Iriya (Tokyo) | 210JPY |
| Total | 1,490JPY | ||
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.