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
- 09:00–09:15
- Travel from Hyatt Regency Tokyo to Meiji Jingu
- 09:15–10:00
- Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine
- 10:00–10:30
- Walk through Takeshita Street
- 10:30–11:00
- Train to Asakusa
- 11:00–11:40 Asakusa walking
- 11:40–13：00
- Lunch break (50 minutes)
- 13:00–13:50
- Explore Asakusa and Senso-ji
- 13:50–14:20
- Travel to Shibuya Crossing
- 14:20–14:45
- Visit Shibuya Crossing and surrounding area
- 14:45–15:00
- Train to Akihabara Station (tour ends)
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Asakusa walking at 11:00 and 13：00 at 11:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shinjuku to Meiji-jingumae by train (160JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Asakusa by train (260JPY); Asakusa to Shibuya by train (260JPY); Shibuya to Akihabara by train (260JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 940JPY per person.
What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Family Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, Shibuya, and Akihabara
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since some of the guests needed to purchase children's cards for the subway, I advised them to be sure to carry their passports. At Meiji Shrine there was a light rain, but the group enjoyed their visit while using umbrellas. They mentioned they wanted to eat sushi in Asakusa, so I considered guiding them to a sushi restaurant where previous guests had been pleased. After that, I spent a good amount of time showing them around Senso-ji Temple. In Shibuya, they enjoyed the view from Hikarie. Finally, I guided them around Akihabara before we parted ways.
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～Meiji-jingumae | 160JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Meiji-jingumae～Asakusa | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Asakusa～Shibuya | 260JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Shibuya～Akihabara | 260JPY |
| Total | 940JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Asakusa walking and 13：00.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 940JPY 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?
Mitch 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.
I am certified as a Top Guide by the JGA.
Drawing on my past experience as a guide, where I have consistently received positive feedback from guests, I will focus on the following key points in my guiding:
Explain the historical transition from Edo to Tokyo through engaging episodes and stories.
Offer a cross-cultural perspective on why concepts such as honji suijaku (the idea of local deities being manifestations of Buddhist figures), as seen at places like Meiji Shrine, represent a worldview that Japan can be proud of.
Provide warm and humorous interaction, incorporating the spirit of hospitality I learned while studying at Columbia University in the United States.
Use my experience working at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to explain Tokyo’s present-day situation with the support of statistical data.
Jul 7, 2026
Ruppa_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great guide and first experience in Tokyo
It was our first time…
Jul 7, 2026
Ruppa_L
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great guide and first experience in Tokyo
It was our first time to Japan. Mitch was a great guide, recommending the key sights in Tokyo. He contacted us before the trip so that he could set up an itinery that worked for our family. We learned about the culture and also how to navigate the trains! Mitch even took us back to our hotel at the end. Thank you for a great first experience in Japan!
Jun 8, 2026
TAMARA_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
Great experience, learning a lot. Get to see a lots…
Jun 8, 2026
TAMARA_R
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
Great experience, learning a lot. Get to see a lots of locations in one day. Mitch our guide is
very knowledgeable and the nicest person we have ever met.
May 7, 2026
Marianela25
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great customized Itinerary with Mitch!
Mitch was a fantastic tour guide. He…
May 7, 2026
Marianela25
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great customized Itinerary with Mitch!
Mitch was a fantastic tour guide. He was very polite and knew the city very well, so there wasn’t a lost minute in our day. He asked me what my preferences were so he could customize my itinerary, and it was great! I was taken to see some hidden gems out of the traditional touristic circuits (and for that Im really thankful). I feel I learnt a lot about the history and culture of Japan, and I got to listen to many good anecdotes from Mitch. I also had a great soba for Lunch, in a very small and cozy restaurant. Arigatou gosaimasu, Mitch!
Apr 29, 2026
163neilh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Asakusa Sensouji Temple, Imperial Palace & Meiji Shrine.
We had a fantastic…
Apr 29, 2026
163neilh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Asakusa Sensouji Temple, Imperial Palace & Meiji Shrine.
We had a fantastic day with our guide Mitch, he was very knowledgeable, a kind man & very generous with his time.
Mitch suggested sushi train for lunch pleasing our granddaughter greatly.
I would recommend Mitch for any type of tour, given he has excellent English.
Deb, Neil, Kate, Joel, Calla & Bodhi
Adelaide, South Australia 😃