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
- 9:00 Meet at Hotel Ryogoku 9:30 Imperial Palace Plaza 10:15 Hama-rikyu Gardens 11:30 Tsukiji Outer Market 13:30 Meiji Shrine 14:30 Harajuku 15:00 Disband at Shibuya
What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Hamarikyu, Tsukiji, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya
This was my first time guiding guests from Europe. Until now I had mostly guided guests from North America, and the atmosphere was quite different. The guests were very receptive and flexible in their thinking, and did not seem to take things too seriously. Above all, they were relaxed and enjoying themselves. At Hamarikyu Gardens, they enjoyed matcha and sweets at the tea house. At the Tsukiji Outer Market, they ate the finest grilled wagyu skewers (3,000 yen each), and afterward at a sushi restaurant one of the guests ordered the top-grade sushi lunch (over 5,000 yen) and was delighted. After that, there was a considerable amount of walking through Meiji Shrine and Harajuku, but the guests did not seem particularly tired and kept up well. Finally, they wanted to see the Shibuya crossing, so I accompanied them to Shibuya, where the tour ended. Afterward, they sent me several photos, and it seemed they were very satisfied.
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 | Ryogoku～Tokyo | 167JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Hibiya～Shiodome | 367JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Higashi-ginza～Meiji-jingumae | 209JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Harajuku～Shibuya | 146JPY |
| Total | 889JPY | ||
Before I started the guiding job in 2022, I had worked for private companies and been engaged in overseas business, which led me to be stationed in various English-speaking countries. Taking advantage of such experiences and also wishing to reciprocate the kindness extended to me during my career, I have decided to help visitors to Japan enjoy their stay and obtained a national guide license.
I am very honored and pleased to assist guests from overseas and enjoy seeing them having a great time visiting interesting spots in Japan and learning about the country. I look forward to serving more new guests and seeing them smile at the end of my private tours.
Jun 8, 2025
T1516LOmarkg
Tokyo tour
Tripadvisor review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Great tour, Shinji was great, they…
Jun 8, 2025
T1516LOmarkg
Tokyo tour
Tripadvisor review: Private Tokyo Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle (Max 15 persons)
Great tour, Shinji was great, they are flexible throughout the day. The transportation was
nice and clean and more than enough room for our family of 7.
Feb 28, 2025
LaToya_S
Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
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LaToya_S
Mr. Shinji is so nice and…
Viator review: Kamakura 4hr Private Trip with Government-Licensed Guide
Mr. Shinji is so nice and patient. The tour was incredible and a great cultural experience. The
entire family enjoyed the tour.
Feb 27, 2025
Edward_M
Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guide
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Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly!…
Feb 27, 2025
Edward_M
Friendly and Knowledgeable Tour Guide
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly! What a memorable day. This tour was the
perfect way to get oriented to the city.
Feb 17, 2025
Trip29223434750
Heavenly Hakone with an angelic guide
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
For those not wanting to…
Feb 17, 2025
Trip29223434750
Heavenly Hakone with an angelic guide
Tripadvisor review: Hakone 6 hour Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
For those not wanting to read my entire post, let me say if you are going to Hakone, consider hiring Shinji. He is marvelous!
We went to Hakone, a notable spa town and a popular tourist destination due to its many hot springs being within view of nearby Mount Fuji, the most visited mountain in Japan. With our guide Shinji we visited the Hakone open air Museum, Hakone Shrine, Lake Ashi, Hakone, Japan, and took the Lake Ashi Cruise. Shinji’s knowledge about the sites, trains, cable cars, cruise, history, culture and languages (Japanese and English) made for a most efficient and memorable experience. Lastly, Shinji was very patient, as our getting to Hakone took more time than we expected, and adaptable, as we made the necessary adjustments to visit every relevant site we had hoped for. Great trip with a great guide!