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
- 09:00 Meet up at the hotel
- 09:30 Visit Meiji Shrine
- 11:00 Stroll through Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- 12:10 Kakuuchi (standing bar) in Monzen-Nakacho
- 13:00 Visit Fukagawa Fudodo Temple
- 14:00 Standing-style sushi lunch in Monzen-Nakacho
- 15:00 Disband at Kappabashi
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 09:00, when the guide met the guests at hotel, and finished at 15:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Meiji Shrine at 09:30, Stroll through Koishikawa Korakuen Garden at 11:00, Kakuuchi (standing bar) in Monzen-Nakacho at 12:10, Fukagawa Fudodo Temple at 13:00 and Standing-style sushi lunch in Monzen-Nakacho at 14:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Harajuku by train (160JPY); Harajuku to Suidobashi by train (210JPY); Iidabashi to Monzen-Nakacho by train (220JPY); Monzen-Nakacho to Tawaramachi (Tokyo) by train (210JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 800JPY per person.
What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo's Meiji Shrine and Fukagawa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. The tour and the guests' reactions The guests were a friendly group visiting Japan from North America. They were close in age to me, so we hit it off from the very start of the tour, and it turned out to be an enjoyable day. At Meiji Shrine, we happened to encounter two wedding processions, and the guests were moved by the brides dressed in traditional kimono wedding attire. At Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, the rabbitear irises were nearly in full bloom and the wisteria was just beginning to open, which delighted one of the guests very much. In Monzen-nakacho, they enjoyed ginjo junmai sake and oden at a standing bar, and they took a liking to the oden daikon radish, which had soaked up plenty of dashi broth. The guests were overwhelmed and deeply moved by the power of the goma fire ritual at Fukagawa Fudodo Temple. Afterward, they enjoyed standing-style sushi. Since they wanted to try the toppings I recommended, I mainly suggested items that cannot be found in North America, such as conger eel, sablefish, and whitebait, and we finished with a kanpyo (dried gourd) roll with wasabi, which they were very happy about. As one of the guests wished to shop at Kappabashi, I guided them to the entrance of the street and ended the tour.
2. Other impressions, notes, and requests The guests had lovely smiles, so we were able to keep a warm and pleasant atmosphere throughout the tour. At Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, the wisteria was about 20 percent in bloom and the azaleas about 30 percent, but roughly 80 percent of the white rabbitear irises had opened. Since Japanese irises and other varieties will begin to bloom after this, I would like to plan a May tour course while checking updates on the garden. I think it would be effective for [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) to create a messaging app group so that guides can share information about plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and other flowers. Other agencies already do this, and it has been helpful for keeping track of cherry blossom bloom information near Lake Kawaguchi. Please do consider it!
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 | Shinjuku～Harajuku | 160JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Harajuku～Suidobashi | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Iidabashi～Monzen-Nakacho | 220JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Monzen-Nakacho～Tawaramachi (Tokyo) | 210JPY |
| Total | 800JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at hotel at 09:00, and the tour finished at Kappabashi at 15:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 09:00 to 15:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Stroll through Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Kakuuchi (standing bar) in Monzen-Nakacho, Fukagawa Fudodo Temple and Standing-style sushi lunch in Monzen-Nakacho.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 800JPY per person across 4 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?
Toru 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 am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.