Tokyo: Tokyo Station & Solamachi — Guide Maddie
October, 2026
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.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:00 Meet at hotel front desk
- 10:20-10:55 Tokyo Station
- 11:20 Hinode Pier
- 12:15 Asakusa
- 12:45 Solamachi
- 15:00 Asakusa Jidaiya
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Tokyo Station at 10:20, Hinode Pier at 11:20, Asakusa at 12:15, Solamachi at 12:45 and Asakusa Jidaiya at 15:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Tokyo to Hamamatsucho by train (200JPY); Hinode Pier to Asakusa (1,400JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 1,600JPY per person.
What Can You Do on a Private Day Tour of Tokyo and Asakusa? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting Japan for the first time together. One of the guests had often watched English-language NHK programs as a young child and developed an interest in Japan.
It was their third day of sightseeing in Tokyo, and they had already visited major attractions such as Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, and the Imperial Palace. Their requests for the day were Tokyo Station (shopping at Character Street and inquiring about Shinkansen tickets), the water bus (Hinode Pier to Asakusa), and the Sumida Aquarium. After guiding them through these, the tour ended at a rickshaw spot in Asakusa.
The guests mentioned that this time, due to a busy schedule, they had left all the planning and arrangements to an agency. They said they would like to do more research and, if possible, return to Japan again with the rest of the family.
A notable stop on the tour was the Sumida Aquarium. Located at the base of Tokyo Skytree in Asakusa, the Sumida Aquarium is a modern indoor aquarium known for its large open pool where visitors can observe penguins and fur seals up close. It also features one of Japan's largest indoor tanks dedicated to goldfish, celebrating the long tradition of goldfish keeping in Japanese culture, as well as displays of jellyfish and creatures from the Ogasawara Islands. Its central location makes it a popular and convenient stop for families exploring the Asakusa area.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Tour & Rickshaw with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Tokyo～Hamamatsucho | 200JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | Hinode Pier～Asakusa | 1,400JPY |
| Total | 1,600JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Tokyo Station, Hinode Pier, Asakusa, Solamachi and Asakusa Jidaiya.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,600JPY 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?
Maddie 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!
I’m Maddie, an English-speaking tour guide.
As a guide, I have been attending bus tours, Tokyo walk-around tours, and also, sumo wrestling tournaments tours.
I have lived in Tokyo for nearly 30 years and have enjoyed walking around this city, full of wonder, mixture of nature and artificial structures. I am happy to share my experience with you.
My hobbies are reading books including Manga, watching films including Anime. I like to watch various sorts of sports. I like to visit museums. And I am a tea ceremony practitioner, so I am quite familiar with green tea (matcha) and Japanese sweets.
I am looking forward to seeing you!
Jun 4, 2026
vadk2026
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo2026
We had an excellent 6-hour walking tour around Tokyo with Maddie.…
Jun 4, 2026
vadk2026
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Tokyo2026
We had an excellent 6-hour walking tour around Tokyo with Maddie. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the city’s history and culture come alive with interesting stories and local insights. The tour was well-paced, organized, and tailored to our interests. We saw so much in a short time and learned things we would never have discovered on our own. Highly recommend Maddie for anyone visiting Tokyo!
May 30, 2026
Heather_O
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfect intro to Japan!
We had a 4 hour private tour on…
May 30, 2026
Heather_O
Viator review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Perfect intro to Japan!
We had a 4 hour private tour on our first morning in Tokyo, and it was the perfect introduction to Japan! We had been contacted by our guide Maddie before the tour, and we told her a few of the places we wanted to visit. She helped us navigate the train station and walked us through all the areas we wanted to see, as well as many other stops along the way that we wouldn’t have seen without her. Maddie was very knowledgeable and friendly, and spoke very clear English. She knew exactly which routes to take, and we would have taken at least twice as long if we tried to go to all those areas without her. She was a great guide and we wished we could have taken her along for the rest of our trip!
May 29, 2026
jasonbO4660LV
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Afternoon in west Tokyo
Maddie was an excellent, knowledgeable guide who maintained…
May 29, 2026
jasonbO4660LV
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Afternoon in west Tokyo
Maddie was an excellent, knowledgeable guide who maintained flexibility as requirements
changed dynamically.
May 8, 2026
sebastianzO2366GR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great
We had a good time walking with Maddie through Tokio. She…
May 8, 2026
sebastianzO2366GR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great
We had a good time walking with Maddie through Tokio. She provided us with a lot of
interesting facts and was always kind and helpful. Even with spontaneous ideas.