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
- 09:50Meet at Toei Asakusa Line Shimbashi Station
- 10:00 Hama Rikyu Garden
- 12:00 Ginza
- 12:30 Lunch at Tendon Ramen Hageten Ginza Branch
- 13:30 Imperial Palace Outer Garden
- 14:00 Ueno Ameyoko, Ueno Park
- 15:10 Meiji Jingu Shrine
- 16:10 Tour ends at JR Harajuku Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Toei Asakusa Line Shimbashi Station at 09:50, the group explored Tokyo until the tour ended at 16:10. The day ran to 6 hours and 20 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch at Tendon Ramen Hageten Ginza Branch at 12:30.
The itinerary covered Hama Rikyu Garden at 10:00, Ginza at 12:00, Imperial Palace Outer Garden at 13:30, Ueno Ameyoko, Ueno Park at 14:00 and Meiji Jingu Shrine at 15:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shimbashi to Ginza by train (178JPY); Ginza to Nijubashimae by train (178JPY); Otemachi to Ueno by train (178JPY); Ueno to Meiji-jingumae by train (209JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 743JPY per person.
What Does a Private Tokyo Day Tour Include? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, and Ueno
The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. Since they had already visited Asakusa, Tsukiji, and Tokyo Tower, I arranged an itinerary combining the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, and Hamarikyu Gardens. For lunch in Ginza, we had tendon at a shop where you purchase meal tickets to pay. As it is a small shop, a line formed once our group entered. They seemed very satisfied. The Imperial Palace East Gardens were closed on Tuesday this week as well. Since the guests wished to buy some small souvenirs, I added a visit to Ueno on short notice and guided them to Ameyoko. It was tight on time, but we also strolled through Ueno Park. After Meiji Shrine, rather than going to Takeshita Street, I explained how to get back to their hotel from the station and ended the tour. The guests were all delighted and said they had a wonderful time.
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 | Shimbashi～Ginza | 178JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Ginza～Nijubashimae | 178JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Otemachi～Ueno | 178JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Ueno～Meiji-jingumae | 209JPY |
| Total | 743JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Toei Asakusa Line Shimbashi Station at 09:50, and the tour finished at Tour ends at JR Harajuku Station at 16:10.
How long does the tour last?
About 6 hours and 20 minutes in total, from 09:50 to 16:10.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Hama Rikyu Garden, Ginza, Imperial Palace Outer Garden, Ueno Ameyoko, Ueno Park and Meiji Jingu Shrine.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 743JPY 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?
Harry 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 there,
I’m Harry. This nickname comes from Harry Bosch, a character in American detective novels. I like watching films, listening to music and reading books, especially detective stories. I love meeting people from different countries and would like to help them understand Japanese culture and history. I believe that tourism can connect people all over the world and change the world into something truly peaceful. I was born in Osaka and have lived in Tokyo for more than 35 years. I am very happy to welcome tourists from all over the world. I will do my best to make your days fantastic. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Oct 8, 2025
Denise_M
Great tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Harry was very knowledgeable. We learned…
Oct 8, 2025
Denise_M
Great tour of Kyoto
Viator review: Kyoto 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Harry was very knowledgeable. We learned a great deal and we saw a lot. We
traveled all over the city
Jun 30, 2025
Iguana74
Customized Tour of Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our four-hour private tour of Kyoto was excellent.…
Jun 30, 2025
Iguana74
Customized Tour of Kyoto
Tripadvisor review: Kyoto 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our four-hour private tour of Kyoto was excellent. Harry, our tour guide, customized our
experience based on what we told him we wanted to do and see in such a short period of
time. He was insightful, communicative, and made the afternoon unforgettable.
May 12, 2025
Tonya_G
Would do it again.
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Our guide, Harry, did an excellent…
May 12, 2025
Tonya_G
Would do it again.
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide from Yokohama
Our guide, Harry, did an excellent job of showing us around Tokyo. He helped us navigate the train and subway systems. Had an excellent Japanese lunch and stopped at good local shopping venues. Harry also arranged which order we should do things in since I didn’t know how far apart the attractions we wanted to see were from each other. No way we could have navigated on our own, very pleased, highly recommend.
Mar 22, 2025
Lauren_P
We had a great time on…
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great time…
Mar 22, 2025
Lauren_P
We had a great time on…
Viator review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great time on this tour. Our guide was excellent. The itinerary he picked out was
perfect. He also help us navigate the area expertly. We had a great time!