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.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:00 Meet up @ Hotel
- 10:20 Meiji Shrine
- 11:10 Takeshita Street
- 12:20 Shibuya Crossing
- 13:30 Asakusa (Lunch, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple)
- 16:00 Disband @ Hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 10:00, when the guide met the guests at @ Hotel, and finished at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Meiji Shrine at 10:20, Takeshita Street at 11:10, Shibuya Crossing at 12:20 and Asakusa (Lunch, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple) at 13:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Asakusa to Aoyama-itchome by subway (210JPY); Aoyama-itchome to Tochomae by subway (220JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 430JPY per person.
What Are the Costs of a Private Taxi vs. Subway Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. They were traveling around Japan by cruise ship and returning home the following day, so they wanted to see the highlights of Tokyo by taxi as much as possible to avoid walking.
Since the distance from Shibuya to Asakusa is considerable, I suggested traveling by subway, but they preferred to go by taxi. However, the taxi fare came to 6,500 yen, which seemed higher than they had expected, and they became a little displeased. I explained that Tokyo is very large and that traveling from the west to the east takes both time and money, and they understood.
On the way back, they said they wanted to use a taxi again, but I explained that a taxi from Asakusa to Shinjuku would cost more than 8,000 yen, so we returned by subway instead.
The subway turned out to be more comfortable than they had expected, and they were in good spirits, which I was glad about.
For taxi travel in the future, I plan to ask about the budget in advance.
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 | Asakusa～Aoyama-itchome | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Aoyama-itchome～Tochomae | 220JPY |
| Total | 430JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ Hotel at 10:00, and the tour finished at @ Hotel at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours in total, from 10:00 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Shibuya Crossing and Asakusa (Lunch, Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple).
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 430JPY per person across 2 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?
Rumi 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’m Rumi.Welcome to Japan!!
I’m a government-licensed guide in the Tokyo area.
I’m so excited to have a chance to show you my favorite places in Tokyo.
Tokyo is a fantastic city with many aspects like history,culture and food.
What interests you about Tokyo?
What kind of Japanese food would you like to try?
I’ll take you to various places according to your request.
My favorite spot is Meiji Shrine.
It’s so peaceful that I’m sure you like it.
I really like to talk with foreigners about various topics.So, I love my job.
I look forward to meeting and guiding you soon.
Sep 29, 2026
Darrin_T
Tokyo Tour with Rumi
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Local tour guide Rumi took…
Sep 29, 2026
Darrin_T
Tokyo Tour with Rumi
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Local tour guide Rumi took us on an efficient and enjoyable afternoon tour. Very much enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend the tour
Sep 29, 2026
anettesoegaardn
Rumi Hosoya is a very good tour-guide.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Our guide was Rumi…
Sep 29, 2026
anettesoegaardn
Rumi Hosoya is a very good tour-guide.
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Our guide was Rumi Hosoya, and it was a real pleasure. She introduced us to Japaneese culture and was a very skilled guide, indeed.
Sep 25, 2026
Frances_K
Rumi was a wonderful…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Rumi was a wonderful guide that provided…
Sep 25, 2026
Frances_K
Rumi was a wonderful…
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Rumi was a wonderful guide that provided a comprehensive overview and tour of the highlights of Tokyo, navigating the complex subway system with ease. It was a long day but well worth it!
Sep 19, 2026
K6328IFcarolinel
Tokyo highlights
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Had a great day
Rumi was very…
Sep 19, 2026
K6328IFcarolinel
Tokyo highlights
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Had a great day
Rumi was very knowledgeable and took us to major tourist attractions like Meiji Shrine Senso ji temple as well as Gina shopping district. She helped us navigate the confusing train and subway system