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
- 12:00 meet at Hotel Century Southern Tower
- 12:20 1. SHINJUKU, the Metropolitan Gov Observation Deck
- 1:30 2. MEIJI JINGU SHRINE
- 2:15 3. TAKESHITA STREET
- 3:00 4. THE IMPERIAL PALACE
- 4:00 5. TOKYO STATION
- 4:45 See off at the Tokyo station
- （This was an itinerary plan to guide them to Odaiba afterwards, but they wished to see Tokyo Station on their own and return to their hotel in Shinjuku early, so we parted at Tokyo Station）
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered 1. SHINJUKU, the Metropolitan Gov Observation Deck at 12:20, 2. MEIJI JINGU SHRINE at 1:30, 3. TAKESHITA STREET at 2:15, 4. THE IMPERIAL PALACE at 3:00, 5. TOKYO STATION at 4:00 and See off at the Tokyo station at 4:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Nishi-Shinjuku to Meiji-jingumae by Free Pass (700JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Hibiya by Free Pass (0JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 700JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Winter Family Tour in Japan Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a family visiting from North America. Because of unseasonable snowfall and the fact that the group included children, they were concerned, and just before the tour they requested a change to the start time, so we began at 12:00. The guests asked a rapid series of questions related to healthcare, including Japan's medical system, social security, and safety nets. Having worked at a financial institution before retiring, I was just barely able to respond to their questions. At the guests' request the start time was moved later, and the finish was also moved earlier at their convenience. The last-minute and on-the-spot changes left me a little unsure at times.
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 | Free Pass | Nishi-Shinjuku～Meiji-jingumae | 700JPY |
| Section 2 | Free Pass | Meiji-jingumae～Hibiya | 0JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited 1. SHINJUKU, the Metropolitan Gov Observation Deck, 2. MEIJI JINGU SHRINE, 3. TAKESHITA STREET, 4. THE IMPERIAL PALACE, 5. TOKYO STATION and See off at the Tokyo station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 700JPY per person across 2 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
Viator review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Early Morning Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
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!