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
- 9:00 Hotel Tokyo Otemachi
- 9:30 Asakusa
- 11:20 Rikugien Garden
- 12:10 Lunch @ Komatsuan
- 13:30 Meiji Shrine
- 14:10 Harajuku
- 14:50 Shibuya Crossing
- 15:00 Dismissal @ Shibuya Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Hotel Tokyo Otemachi at 9:00, Asakusa at 9:30, Rikugien Garden at 11:20, Meiji Shrine at 13:30, Harajuku at 14:10 and Shibuya Crossing at 14:50.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Otemachi (Tokyo) to Asakusa by subway (180JPY); Asakusa to Komagome by train (380JPY); Komagome to Harajuku by train (260JPY); Harajuku to Shibuya by train (160JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 980JPY per person.
What Is a Private First-Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Rikugien, Harajuku, and Shibuya
The guests were a family visiting from North America, and this was their first day in Japan. They had timed their visit to coincide with a school trip and were traveling in Tokyo and Kyoto. One of the guests had a real fondness for cute things, so we started at Asakusa, where they got some character goods early on, and this seemed to set a happy tone for the day. The omikuji fortune came out as a "small fortune," which was a relief. Perhaps because of the rainy weather, Rikugien Garden had even fewer visitors than usual, and while we watched our footing carefully, we were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Since dietary preferences ruled out certain foods, I had researched a restaurant in advance, but it was fully booked, so we went to a soba restaurant instead, and the guests were satisfied. In Harajuku, the guests were able to find what they were looking for, which seemed to put everyone at ease. Since the shopping went quickly, we were able to continue to the famous Shibuya crossing at the end, and I saw them off to the station platform before we parted ways. The guests were quiet and not very expressive, but everything went smoothly, and I was reassured to receive their words of thanks at the end.
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 | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Asakusa | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Asakusa～Komagome | 380JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Komagome～Harajuku | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 160JPY |
| Total | 980JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hotel Tokyo Otemachi, Asakusa, Rikugien Garden, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Shibuya Crossing.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 980JPY 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?
Takako 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 Takako. Thank you for seeing my page. I’ve been showing guests around Tokyo, Yokohama and Kamakura for over six years. There are various things from historic sites, shrines and temples to cultural spots, good restaurants and anime shops in Japan.
I love watching sumo wrestling, Japanese traditional sport.
My favorite place is Tsukiji food market. It’s really exciting and you can enjoy a variety of delicious foods.
I also like visiting Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu Gardens and Rikugien Gardens.
Please let me know what interests you.
I would be happy to make a suitable tour for you and help you stay in Japan comfortably.
Looking forward to meeting you!!
Jul 21, 2026
Z222TCshannonr
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
Our wonderful guide,…
Jul 21, 2026
Z222TCshannonr
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
6 hour guided tour of Tokyo
Our wonderful guide, Takako, took us on a tour of Tokyo. She helped us create a plan based on our interests and was flexible when we needed to change the itinerary a bit due to extreme heat. She was friendly, informative, and helpful. We enjoyed learning about Japanese culture and history from Takako, and we saw amazing temples and ate delicious sushi. I highly recommend this tour and Takako as a guide!
Jul 9, 2026
cronima2
Perfectly guided day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had an amazing day with…
Jul 9, 2026
cronima2
Perfectly guided day
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
We had an amazing day with Takako. Takako got in contact prior to our tour to create the perfect itinerary. She collected us from our hotel and helped us get our travel cards and showed us how to use the public transport. Takako altered our tour and took us to Harajuku Takeshite street, which our teenagers really enjoyed. Takako was really informative and friendly and made the day really enjoyable. We would have no hesitation in booking her again. Takako showed us more in 6 hours than we would have seen in a week if left to our own devices. Thanks Takako and we will watch The Transporter!
Jul 3, 2026
johnoD792VT
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Guide!
Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on…
Jul 3, 2026
johnoD792VT
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Lovely Guide!
Takako was an amazing guide! She gave strong insights on the places we visited and picked a delicious ramen shop for lunch. We really appreciated her thorough communication and friendly demeanor.
Jul 3, 2026
71nidhim
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main…
Jul 3, 2026
71nidhim
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo Tour
Takako was extremely knowledgeable and showed us all the main attractions with care and detail. We would highly recommend doing this activity.