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
- Hotel → Meguro Station → Shinagawa Station → Nippori Station → Yanaka Cemetery → Yanaka Ginza → Kako Misawa Nippori → Former Yasuda Kusuo Residence Garden → Hon-Komagome Station
Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Yanaka in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
At the start, I supported the guests at the ticket office with issuing and using their bullet train tickets for a train scheduled on a separate day.
The guests seemed very satisfied with the stroll through Yanaka and the garden of the historic former Yasuda residence. They appeared to experience an everyday side of Tokyo, different from busy areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya, as well as the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house. They also greatly enjoyed the lunch I had chosen, savoring it with delight. Since they had a fondness for ceramics and tea, I also took them to shops of that kind in the Yanaka area.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
My name is Isao Kajimura.
I was born in Osaka. From my childhood, I used to visit Kyoto temples and shrines often, so I am good at guiding guests to temples, shrines and gardens.
I have been acting as a guide for 7 years and the area which I am familiar with include Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji, Ginza, Asakusa, Ueno, Okachimachi, Akihabara, Yanaka and Shinjuku Kabuki-cho.
I like introducing my guests to beautiful Japanese gardens such as Shinjuku Gyoen, Rikugi-en Garden, Kiyosumi Garden, and Imperial Palace Garden.
I welcome any questions about Japan not just about sightseeing , but also happy to introduce to Japanese people’s lifestyle, social systems, way of thinking etc.
Mar 28, 2026
Gayle_J
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo personal guide experience
Isao provided a memorable day for us in…
Mar 28, 2026
Gayle_J
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo personal guide experience
Isao provided a memorable day for us in Tokyo. He communicated with us early on. He listened carefully and shaped an itinerary that fit our personal interests and needs. He helped us tremendously to learn how to maneuver the city. He showed us how to buy tickets for the subway, how to stand on the escalators, what to buy for lunch, where to exchange money, etc. He even honored a personal request to go to an electronics store so we could buy cables for our phones. He also planned our trip so that last stop was nearest our hotel. It was very easy to make our way back. We have used Viator several times before with groups, but we were so spoiled on this trip that we plan to use personal guides in the future.