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
- 10:30 Meiji Shrine
- 12:00 East Gardens
- 13:00 Lunch @ Palace Building soba restaurant
- 14:20 Ginza
- 15:00 Asakusa
- 16:00 Disband @ Asakusa
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:00 at @ Hotel and ended at 16:00. The day ran to 6 hours from start to finish. It included lunch @ Palace Building soba restaurant at 13:00.
Over the course of the day the route took in Meiji Shrine at 10:30, East Gardens at 12:00, Ginza at 14:20 and Asakusa at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Harajuku by train (160JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Otemachi (Tokyo) by subway (210JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Ginza by subway (180JPY); Ginza to Asakusa by subway (210JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 760JPY per person.
What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the East Gardens, and Asakusa
The guests were a group visiting from North America. They were familiar with Asia but were visiting Japan for the first time. Since they had already explored Harajuku, Shibuya, and Tsukiji on their own, they requested to visit Meiji Shrine, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. At the East Gardens, they were delighted to see the irises in full bloom. They also thoroughly enjoyed the soba and tempura for lunch and finished every bite. As they wished to go shopping in Ginza on another day, I introduced them to places such as Itoya, Mitsukoshi, and UNIQLO. After Asakusa, they headed to the Skytree on their own.
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 | Subway | Meiji-jingumae～Otemachi (Tokyo) | 210JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Ginza | 180JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Ginza～Asakusa | 210JPY |
| Total | 760JPY | ||
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 @ Asakusa 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, East Gardens, Ginza and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 760JPY 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?
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