Tokyo in One Day: 1. THE IMPERIAL PALACE — Guide Masa
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
- 15:30 Meet at Haneda Airport Terminal 3
- 16:45 1. THE IMPERIAL PALACE
- 18:00 2. Tokyo Station
- 19:15 3. SENSO-JI TEMPLE
- 20:30 4. TOKYO TOWER
- 21:30 See off at Daimon Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited 1. THE IMPERIAL PALACE at 16:45, 2. Tokyo Station at 18:00, 3. SENSO-JI TEMPLE at 19:15, 4. TOKYO TOWER at 20:30 and See off at Daimon Station at 21:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Haneda Airport Terminal 3 to Hibiya by train (330JPY); Sengakuji to Hibiya by Free Pass (900JPY); Tokyo to Asakusa – Daimon by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 1,230JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Layover Tour from Haneda Airport Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
Meeting guests at Haneda Airport Terminal 3 remains a challenging task. It was 30 minutes after the flight's arrival that we were finally able to meet, only after exchanging phone calls. Although I had emailed the [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) waiting board as a PDF in advance, the guests, as on a previous occasion, passed through the Arrival Exit without recognizing it at all. They did mention that they thought they had caught a glimpse of it for a moment. The booking was made through a travel agency, and it seems the [Japan Guide Agency](https://www.j-g-a.org/) name was not familiar to them. I believe some improvement in this area is needed.
Since the guests were on a layover, we made sure to arrange all transportation for the day at Haneda Airport before departing. At the Keikyu counter in the arrival lobby, they used a credit card to purchase a Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway one-day pass, along with round-trip Keikyu tickets between the airport and Sengakuji for 330 yen each. I also let them know that no further transportation costs would be incurred during the day's movements.
The guests were a pleasant group who enjoyed exchanging jokes, and they also showed a keen interest in culture and history, which made for a lively and enjoyable tour full of conversation. On the way back, I would normally have escorted them all the way to Haneda Airport, but because our departure had been delayed and the timing could not be adjusted, I saw them off after they boarded an express train on the Toei Asakusa Line that runs directly to Haneda Airport.
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 | Haneda Airport Terminal 3～Hibiya | 330JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Sengakuji～Hibiya | 900JPY |
| Section 3 | Free Pass | Tokyo～Asakusa – Daimon | 0JPY |
| Total | 1,230JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited 1. THE IMPERIAL PALACE, 2. Tokyo Station, 3. SENSO-JI TEMPLE, 4. TOKYO TOWER and See off at Daimon Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,230JPY per person across 3 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?
Masa 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.
Welcome to Japan. I hope you are going to enjoy your stay.
Who am I?
I am a Licensed Guide Interpreter at an age of 61.
I got an early retirement from 36 yrs of the employment in a Japanese financial sector.
I hope I can attend to you with the Japanese politeness, hospitality and smile.
What can I be expected?
I would like to introduce the photogenic sites, the indigenous experiences
and good Japanese local food around Tokyo, Hakone/Mt Fuji.
I might be able to show you the features of shrine and temple with a religious manner if you’d like.
As a matter of fact, I don’t have a specific religion to believe, though.
I love Japan and that’s why I started a new career as a guide.
What do I love?
Most of all, my family. I have a wife 56 yrs old, a son 28 yrs old and a daughter 25 yrs old.
I like eating raw fish and sushi, buckwheat noodles and curry rice.
How do I spend my spear time?
I run for 5 km in the morning listening to my favorite music.
I might have a chance to go to a studio program in the fitness club nearby once a week.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Thank you.
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour…
Jul 21, 2026
Sandra_U
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Individualized Tour!
Our tour guide, Masa, was wonderful. The tour was individually crafted to the sites and activities that we wanted to see. We really enjoyed that we used public transportation. He had great insight and was very helpful. I highly recommend.
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
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We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even…
Apr 3, 2026
Celal_S
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
We had a great tour even…
We had a great tour even it was full day rainy and a bad day for walking. Masa san was a
great guide, he was very helpful and guided us very nicely.
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
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6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6…
Mar 30, 2026
Johanna H
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6 hour Guided Tour of Tokyo
We booked the 6 hour tour of Tokyo with a Government Guide for our first day, to help us ‘acclimatise’ to Tokyo….learn the trains/metro, get tips and ideas etc, plus obviously visit a few highlights. Masa our guide was brilliant, contacting us in advance to find out what we would like to see, then he produced a detailed itinerary for us to review (it was spot on). He kept in touch leading up to the day and led us through a great day. The tour (& Masa) exceeded our expectations
Mar 26, 2026
Chica717
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Amazing private tour with Masa!
We had the absolute pleasure of spending…
Mar 26, 2026
Chica717
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Amazing private tour with Masa!
We had the absolute pleasure of spending two days with Masa san (a 6-hr tour and an 8-hour tour). If you are able to specifically request him as your guide, I highly recommend you do. He went above and beyond to make sure our visit to Tokyo was unforgettable. We corresponded well in advance, and Masa san provided invaluable insight into planning two days’ worth of sightseeing. On the days of our tours, he arrived on time and well prepared, and answered all our questions throughout the tours, whether they were about the sites, local customs, history, or etiquette. He researched alternatives when it rained and called venues on our behalf. He was a tour guide, travel agent, interpreter, and fixer – all in one! Most importantly, Masa san is a delight to spend time with – he’s a great conversationalist, and is extremely thoughtful, kind, and funny!