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 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.
Jun 29, 2026
898clausw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Really helpfull guide
Extremely helpfull to have a friendly and competent guide…
Jun 29, 2026
898clausw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Really helpfull guide
Extremely helpfull to have a friendly and competent guide first day in overwhelming Tokyo
Jun 27, 2026
sallypO7128PM
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo- family with older teens
My family had an excellent…
Jun 27, 2026
sallypO7128PM
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tour of Tokyo- family with older teens
My family had an excellent tour around Tokyo with Rumi as two adults and two older teenagers. Rumi met us at our hotel and dropped us back there afterwards, which was really helpful as we were struggling with Shinjuku station. She was knowledgeable in the fish market and suggested food we might want to try from the best stalls. She showed us a great place for lunch where the kids enjoyed katsu curry. Rumi was very kind at the temple, showing us how to test our luck and providing offerings as well as walking us around the streets to buy souvenirs. She also helped with printing train tickets, checked up on us after an earthquake and sent through photos she had taken, none of which she had to do- she really went above and beyond expectations and made our first day in Japan a day to remember.
Jun 15, 2026
Scott P
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Terrific Tour and Guide
We had an incredible day! Rumi was…
Jun 15, 2026
Scott P
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Terrific Tour and Guide
We had an incredible day! Rumi was our guide for a six hour tour. We visited Asakusa (Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple), Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku (Takeshita Street) and Shibuya….
Jun 12, 2026
Tonya O
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Rumi is a great guide!
Rumi was a wonderful guide. She…
Jun 12, 2026
Tonya O
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Rumi is a great guide!
Rumi was a wonderful guide. She helped us tailor our itinerary so we could make the most
of our time on the tour. She was very kind and helped us learn a lot about the many
beautiful sites in Tokyo on our list. Thank you, Rumi! 💕