Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Minoruasai
February, 2025
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 Meet at the Monday Apartment Shiba Daimon lobby.
- 09:15 -09:50 Guided tour of Shiba Onshi Park. After finishing, moved to Nijubashi Bridge in front of the Imperial Palace.
- 10:15-11:00 Walked from Hibiya Station to the main gate of the Imperial Palace and explained about the Imperial Palace. Took photos in front of Nijubashi Bridge. After finishing, moved to Tsukiji Outer Market.
- 11:20-12:15 Strolled through Tsukiji Outer Market. Both guests purchased and ate various seafood. After finishing, at their request to see the famous Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple that we passed on the way walking from the subway, we went inside Hongwanji Temple.
- 12:20-12:50 Toured the interior of Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. As a monk happened to be chanting sutras, both listened with interest. After finishing, at their request to see Shinjuku's Golden Gai, we moved to Shinjuku.
- 13:20-14:15 Got off at Shinjuku Station on the Marunouchi Line and walked to Shinjuku West Exit, guided them through Omoide Yokocho. From there walked under the tracks to the East Exit. Showed them the 3D cat, then the Godzilla at Hotel Gracery, then walked further to Shinjuku Golden Gai and guided them through Golden Gai. After finishing, guided them to the adjacent Hanazono Shrine. After finishing, in line with their request in the morning to see a military museum if there was one, we moved to Yasukuni Shrine and took them to the Yushukan.
- 15:00 After guiding them through the grounds of Yasukuni Shrine, guided them to the entrance of the Yushukan, and after advising them on how to tour the museum as well as how to return to the hotel by subway, we said goodbye.
Title: What Can You See on a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. They were traveling together with another member of the group who did not join today's tour and spent the day separately. Since this was already their third day in Tokyo, I asked which places they had already visited and where they would still like to go. They said they wanted to experience more traditionally Japanese places, so our route covered Shiba Onshi Park, the Imperial Palace, the Tsukiji Outer Market, Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku Golden Gai, Hanazono Shrine, and the Yushukan museum at Yasukuni Shrine.
When we met at the Hotel, one of the guests mentioned they would love to visit a place like a military memorial museum, so I took the group to the Yushukan at 3:00 p.m. and said goodbye there, letting them explore it at their own pace.
At Hanazono Shrine, we happened to come across two Shinto priests reciting a norito prayer in front of the Inari shrine within the grounds for a group of visitors. The guests said they found this very interesting, so it was a lucky encounter.
At the Tsukiji Outer Market, the guests thoroughly enjoyed the street-food stands, sampling tuna, eel, sea urchin, tamago, and more, which pleased them greatly.
When we parted, they said they hoped to return to Japan around next year during the cherry blossom season, and I felt they had truly come to love Japan.
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 | Daimon～Hibiya | 900JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Nijubashimae～Tsukiji | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Tsukiji～Shinjuku | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Shinjuku-sanchome～Kudanshita | 0JPY |
| Total | 900JPY | ||
I acquired national guide license in 2014, and I have been doing guide work full fledged since 2016. In my career before starting guide work, I was a business man and made more than 1,000 business trips both abroad and in Japan, and that experience is my foundation as a guide because I came to know so many places both abroad and in Japan. I have been taking care of both group and individual tourists, and the number of foreign guests I have taken care is close to 2,500 so far. I am based in Tokyo, but I can cover guide work in many prefectures throughout Japan. When I take care of foreign guests, my major concern is to listen attentively to them, find out what they want to know and do in Japan, and give them appropriate guiding in accordance with what I heard from my guests. I would like to provide tailor made tour as much as possible for every precious guest who kindly chose Japan as the tour destination.
Aug 1, 2025
8
898kendrap
Great first day in Tokyo!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Asai, our tour guide, made our…
Aug 1, 2025
8
898kendrap
Great first day in Tokyo!
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Asai, our tour guide, made our first day in Tokyo so memorable and enjoyable! He shared his knowledge and love for the city as he showed us around. We now understand how to navigate the train system, and he even left us a list of how to explore other areas of the city by train. Our tour was a fun way to get acquainted with this amazing city!
Jul 14, 2025
Anette_V
Perfect
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Minoru Asai was very friendly and knowledgeable about culture,…
Jul 14, 2025
Anette_V
Perfect
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our guide Minoru Asai was very friendly and knowledgeable about culture, history and
society. He picked and showed us more than We expected. Also he was good Company for
both me, my husbond and our son aged 22.
Jun 30, 2025
liammL2246HL
Amazing experience
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an amazing private tour with Minoru Asai! We…
Jun 30, 2025
liammL2246HL
Amazing experience
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had an amazing private tour with Minoru Asai! We loved seeing all of the sights on the tour and Minoru was extremely knowledge about all things in Tokyo and else-wear in Japan. We were able to adjust the stops due to the heat (it was up to 35C!) and Minoru had great suggestions for things to check out. Highly recommend!
Jun 26, 2025
394milesd
Excellent guide making an excellent day in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A perfect day, tailored…
Jun 26, 2025
394milesd
Excellent guide making an excellent day in Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
A perfect day, tailored to our needs (and the weather) and delivered so attentively by our guide Minoru Asai. He was in contact in advance of the day to understand our interests, and advised us on practicalities and remained flexible throughout the day as required. His knowledge, and passion, for the history of Tokyo made the day! Could not have asked for more.