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 hotel
- 10:10-11:20 Asakusa
- 12:00-13:00 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 13:00-14:00 Lunch break in Marunouchi
- 14:30-15:30 Meiji Shrine
- Disperse at Meiji-jingumae Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Asakusa at 10:10, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 12:00 and Meiji Shrine at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tameike-Sanno to Asakusa by Free Pass (700JPY); Asakusa to Takebashi by Free Pass (0JPY); Nijubashimae to Meiji-jingumae by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 700JPY per person.
What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe who had been friends since their school days, and this was the first day of their vacation. They had already booked Skytree for the evening. It was the final day of the Sanja Matsuri, so there had been some concern about crowds in Asakusa, but during the time we visited it was not too busy, and we were able to proceed almost as usual. The guests both drew a "kyo" (bad fortune) omikuji, which made for a lively moment. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace were tough on a midsummer day, but by seeking out shade whenever possible and walking underground in Marunouchi to escape the heat, we completed the planned itinerary. At Meiji Shrine we also made our way through shaded paths, and partway through we were able to watch a bridal procession, which the guests greatly enjoyed. We confirmed the route back to the Hotel at Meiji-Jingumae Station and parted ways.
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 | Free Pass | Tameike-Sanno～Asakusa | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Asakusa～Takebashi | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Nijubashimae～Meiji-jingumae | 0JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Asakusa, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 700JPY 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?
Masa 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 everyone, and welcome to Japan!
I obtained a national tour guide license back in 2001, while I have been busy teaching English full time for many years. Since 2018 I have enjoyed guiding guests from all over the world.
I live in a western suburb of Tokyo, so I can guide you around the wider Tama area as well as central Tokyo. I love introducing visitors to both the famous highlights and the hidden gems where you can take wonderful photos and experience authentic Japanese culture. Along the way, I enjoy sharing stories about Japanese history, traditions, and daily life.
I once worked in Australia as a teacher of Japanese language, which gave me many opportunities to communicate with people from different cultures.
I also enjoy golf — I even traveled alone to the UK for a golf tour.
I look forward to guiding you and helping your time in Japan both enjoyable and memorable.
Apr 27, 2026
Matthew_T
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Highly recommend!
This was the first thing we did in Japan, it…
Apr 27, 2026
Matthew_T
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Highly recommend!
This was the first thing we did in Japan, it was perfect! Our tour guide, Masa, was very knowledgeable and helpful. He came up with a great itenerary and guided us through some cultural experiences. He was kind and easy to talk to, and even helped us find a game store that he had previously not heard of. It felt like he took care and time to research so that our experience would be the best it could be.
Apr 13, 2026
Beverly_S
Viator review: Tokyo Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Great experience
Amazing walking tour. The guide customizes…
Apr 13, 2026
Beverly_S
Viator review: Tokyo Off the Beaten Path 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Great experience
Amazing walking tour. The guide customizes your tour to what you most want to do. He is organized and is very knowledgeable and friendly. He took us to restaurant where we experienced eating on the floor on mats and accommodated our son’s dietary requirements. We asked to end at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Ueno Park. Wonderful day. I highly recommend this tour.
Mar 30, 2026
Claudia M
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Grosartige Tour mit tollem Guide Masa
Wir haben diese Tour als…
Mar 30, 2026
Claudia M
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Grosartige Tour mit tollem Guide Masa
Wir haben diese Tour als vierkopfige Familie gebucht (51-50-18-15 Jahre) und konnen diese Tour nur empfehlen. Vielleicht hatte man noch 1-2 Stunden mehr Zeit haben mussen, da man aufgrund der Menschenmenge teilweise sehr langsam voran kommt und naturlich auch gewisse Strecken in der Bahn verbringt. Masa hat das Beste rausgeholt. Bereits im Vorfeld standen wir in einem guten Austausch bezuglich der Tour, welche Highlights uns interessieren und was moglich ist. Wahrend der Tour hat uns Masa viel zur Historie und Bedeutung auch anhand von Bildmaterial erzahlen und erklaren konnen. Mit ihm konnten wir die ein oder andere Warteschlange umgehen. Das war spitze. Beendet haben wir die Tour im Restaurant Meiji Jingu, wo uns Masa bereits einen Tisch reserviert hatte.
Zusammengefasst hatten wir einen tollen Tag mit unseren super Guide Masa! Vielen Dank!!
素晴らしいツアー、最高のガイドのマサさんと一緒に
私たちはこのツアーを、4人家族（51歳、50歳、18歳、15歳）で予約しましたが、このツアーはぜひおすすめできます。
ただ、人混みのために移動が時々非常に遅くなることや、一部の区間を電車で移動することもあり、あと1?2時間余分に時間があればよかったかもしれません。
マサさんは最高の体験にしてくれました。ツアー前から、どのハイライトに興味があるか、何が可能かについて良いやり取りをしていました。
ツアー中も、マサさんは歴史や意味について、資料を使ってわかりやすく説明してくれました。また、彼のおかげでいくつかの行列を回避することもできました。それは本当に素晴らしかったです。
ツアーの最後は、マサさんがあらかじめ予約してくれていた明治神宮内のレストランで締めくくりました。
まとめると、私たちは素晴らしいガイドのマサさんと、とても楽しい一日を過ごすことができました！本当にありがとうございました！！