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
- 08:00 Depart from Hotel to Meiji Shrine (from Tokyo Metro Nishi-Shinjuku Station to Kita-Sando Station)
- 08:40 From Kita-Sando into Meiji Shrine grounds (worship at the main hall, stroll through the inner garden)
- 10:00 From the south approach to Takeshita Street
- 11:00 Exit from the east end of Takeshita Street and from Tokyo Metro Meiji-Jingumae Station to Asakusa Station
- 11:48 Arrive at Asakusa, after viewing the entire Asakusa area from the view deck on the 8th floor of the Culture and Tourism Center, lunch at a soba restaurant
- 13:15 After lunch, tour Nakamise and Senso-ji, then head to Shibuya (from Asakusa Station to Shibuya Station)
- 14:00 Experience crossing the scramble intersection in Shibuya, see Hachiko
- 14:30 To Nishi-Shinjuku (from Shibuya Station to Nishi-Shinjuku Station)
- 15:00 Planned to visit the Metropolitan Government Building observation deck before returning to the hotel, but skipped due to crowds
- 15:20 Arrive at the hotel, disband
Tokyo First-Time Visitor Private Tour Itinerary: What Does a Full-Day Guide Plan Look Like?
The guests were a group of eight visiting Japan. All but one of them were visiting Japan for the first time. The group did not tend to wander off on their own, so guiding them was relatively easy. Since the itinerary was left up to me, I arranged a typical course for first-time visitors to Japan (partly because many facilities were closed as it was a Monday), and they enjoyed it, including the Inner Garden of Meiji Jingu (the following day I received a message saying it had been a great tour). I considered going to Shibuya first thing in the morning before Meiji Jingu, but since there tend to be fewer tourists in the early morning and it would likely be less interesting, I decided to go in the afternoon. Even so, it was not very crowded, but they seemed to enjoy it well enough.
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 | Nishi-Shinjuku～Kita-Sando | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Meiji-Jingumae～Asakusa | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Asakusa～Shibuya | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Shibuya～Nishi-Shinjuku | 180JPY |
| Total | 880JPY | ||
I have worked as a diplomat for 48 years until last year(2024), so I think I am good at explaining anything about Japan in English. Though I’m a novice as tour guide, l promise that I will make detailed and thorough preparations for guiding you and to make your trip smooth and enjoyable. I myself like to experience various means of transportation and interested in local culture, history and food. You may be a bit concerned about my age(71 years old), but I am quite fit for work. Just to prove this I wish to say that I played 5 rounds of golf this summer month of August, 2025.
Apr 16, 2026
127dougg
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enjoyable to have a day being toured about with no…
Apr 16, 2026
127dougg
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very enjoyable to have a day being toured about with no need for us to do all the advance planning.
We had Mr. Toshihisa as a guide for a day in Hakone. We might have been able to do the route ourselves but it was great to have a day with no planning, it was all done ahead of time by Toshi. We got an early start to avoid spending too much time in queues, which was great. Toshi is very knowledgeable and shared many explanations, stories and anecdotes with us, which was most appreciated. The Hakone FreePass made it very easy to navigate all of the various styles of transportation – highly recommended. Overall for us, this was a great experience.
Oct 25, 2025
Julia_G
Tokyo gardens and museums.
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Toshi is an excellent guide. He crafted a…
Oct 25, 2025
Julia_G
Tokyo gardens and museums.
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Toshi is an excellent guide. He crafted a beautiful tour of places I would not have found on
my own.
Oct 14, 2025
M
Manohar_S
Superb must see
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very scenic and beautiful trip… Mr Toshi…
Oct 14, 2025
M
Manohar_S
Superb must see
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Very scenic and beautiful trip… Mr Toshi San was a very well educated and friendly guide…
he took us to all the most beautiful and scenic places.. he also was very helpful person and
made sure we had a good vegetarian lunch
Oct 7, 2025
Robert_H
Lots of walking. We are…
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Lots of walking. We are…
Oct 7, 2025
Robert_H
Lots of walking. We are…
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Lots of walking. We are all 70+ with 1 guest using a walker, and the guide was very
accommodating and flexible to our restrictions. Guide was knowledgeable and interesting.
Excellent English. Very good at helping us navigate the trains and subway.