Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa & East Gardens — Guide Rumi

October, 2026

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 @ Hotel
10:50 Asakusa (Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple)
12:30 Shibuya Crossing
13:00 Harajuku Lunch
14:00 Meiji Shrine
15:10 East Gardens
16:15 Disband @ Azabudai Hills

Tour Itinerary in Detail

This private tour of Tokyo began at 10:00, when the guide met the guests at @ Hotel, and finished at 16:15. The day ran to 6 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish.

From there the group visited Asakusa (Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple) at 10:50, Shibuya Crossing at 12:30, Harajuku Lunch at 13:00, Meiji Shrine at 14:00 and East Gardens at 15:10.

Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nishi-Shinjuku to Asakusa by subway (260JPY); Asakusa to Shibuya by subway (260JPY); Shibuya to Harajuku by train (160JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Otemachi (Tokyo) by subway (210JPY); Otemachi (Tokyo) to Kamiyacho by subway (180JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,070JPY per person.

Title: What Can You See on a One-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were lovely visitors from Europe. They had arrived the day before, and since Tokyo was only on the itinerary for this one day, we focused on the highlights. Asakusa was very crowded, but they were delighted to see the autumn cherry blossoms (jugatsu-zakura). After the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, we had lunch and then headed to Meiji Shrine. As it was a Saturday, there were weddings, Shichi-Go-San celebrations, and Omiyamairi ceremonies taking place, so the guests were able to witness Japanese culture firsthand. After that, we visited the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, where the weather was just right and we enjoyed a pleasant stroll. Since the guests had reserved teamLab Borderless, I took them to Azabudai Hills and said goodbye there. They were very kind people, and I thoroughly enjoyed guiding them. A notable stop on the tour was Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in a tranquil forested area in the heart of Tokyo, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Surrounded by over 100,000 trees donated from across Japan, it offers a peaceful contrast to the bustling city and is a popular place to observe traditional ceremonies and experience Japanese spiritual culture.

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～Asakusa	260JPY
Section 2	Subway	Asakusa～Shibuya	260JPY
Section 3	Train	Shibuya～Harajuku	160JPY
Section 4	Subway	Meiji-jingumae～Otemachi (Tokyo)	210JPY
Section 5	Subway	Otemachi (Tokyo)～Kamiyacho	180JPY
Total			1,070JPY

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 @ Azabudai Hills at 16:15.

How long does the tour last?

About 6 hours and 15 minutes in total, from 10:00 to 16:15.

Which places does this itinerary cover?

This tour visited Asakusa (Nakamise, Senso-ji Temple), Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku Lunch, Meiji Shrine and East Gardens.

How much did transport cost on this tour?

Public transport came to 1,070JPY per person across 5 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.

Tour Report by Rumi

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.

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