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 up at the hotel
- 09:40 Visit Meiji Shrine
- 11:00 Tour the Tokyo National Museum
- 12:50 Guide to Yokozuna Tonkatsu Tanaka
- 13:00 Take photos in front of the restaurant and disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Meiji Shrine at 09:40, Tour the Tokyo National Museum at 11:00, Guide to Yokozuna Tonkatsu Tanaka at 12:50 and Take photos in front of the restaurant and disband at 13:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Kudanshita to Meiji-jingumae by train (210JPY); Harajuku to Ueno by train (260JPY); Ueno to Morishita (Tokyo) by train (290JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 760JPY per person.
What Is a Private Tokyo Tour of Meiji Shrine and the Tokyo National Museum Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
1. The tour and the guests' reactions The guests were visitors from North America who came to Japan. At Meiji Shrine, they were delighted by the sacred atmosphere of the approach path. Because of the spring grand festival, a traditional stage and large taiko drums had been set up on the plaza in front of the main hall, so they were able to enjoy a lively atmosphere different from usual. We happened to come across a procession of a bride and groom heading to a wedding, along with their family and friends, and the guests were moved by the white bridal kimono. The guests also wrote their prayers on an ema votive tablet and were pleased, saying, "What a wonderful experience." Due to time constraints, we could stay at the Tokyo National Museum for only a little under an hour. Since the guests were interested in samurai culture and Buddhism, we focused mainly on those exhibits, and they were satisfied. They told me, "We'll save the rest for our next visit to Japan," which was a relief to hear.
2. Other notes and remarks The guests' hotel was in the Kudanshita area, close to Yasukuni Shrine. As it was a public holiday, right-wing and left-wing demonstrators were expected to appear around Yasukuni Shrine, and there was a heavy security presence with more than ten Metropolitan Police riot vehicles closing off the Kudanshita intersection. I explained the situation to the guests and advised them that if the security measures were still in place after the tour, they should stay inside the hotel as much as possible and go out only after the security had been lifted.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Tour & Sumo Show Lunch with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Kudanshita～Meiji-jingumae | 210JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Harajuku～Ueno | 260JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Ueno～Morishita (Tokyo) | 290JPY |
| Total | 760JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Tour the Tokyo National Museum, Guide to Yokozuna Tonkatsu Tanaka and Take photos in front of the restaurant and disband.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 760JPY 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?
Toru 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 am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.
For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/
I look forward to meeting you soon!
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru…
July 2, 2026
David S
Tripadvisor : Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Incredible experience at the Markets!
Toru was an AMAZING host and tour guide. He went above and beyond with communication prior, during, and after to make sure my Son and I had an incredible experience. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and catered the tour to what we wanted as well. The sushi breakfast was unreal! Learning all about both Toyosu and Tsukiji markets was an experience we will never forget. 10 out of 10 for sure!!
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide…
Jun 6, 2026
meltemg957
Unique experience with a highly knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
This was our first time visiting a fish market, and from the time we booked the experience, Toru-san has been amazing. He helped us get to Toyosu market, where the tuna auction takes place, at the right time to get the best views and explained everything about how the auction works and made sure we didn’t miss anything. (You will need a knowledgeable tour guide because everything happens so fast and you might miss it!) We learned so much during such a short time about how the delicious tuna you eat at a sushi restaurant ends up in front of you. After the auction Toru-san took us to Okame, a great sushi restaurant, where we got to experience delicious sushi breakfast. Our next stop was Tsukiji market, and again we got to try all sorts of food and learn more about the market and got to meet some of the vendors. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. If you are interested in cooking, Japanese cuisine, or know someone home, this tour will give you the opportunity to do some shopping for unique souvenirs.
We had to get to Toyosu market before 5 am, and while you might think it’s too early, but why not do something fun and delicious with your jetlag? It was so worth it and I’m glad we chose to spend our first morning in Tokyo with Toru-san. The other advantage of being so early was that the market was not as crowded and we got to enjoy our time without having to wait in line.
Thank you, Toru-san!
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction…
Jun 4, 2026
bluejerky1
Turo was knowledgeable and the tour was fun and fun and informative. Highly recommend.
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
The tour was great. We got to learn a lot about sushi and really enjoyed our time in the
market as well.
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was…
May 29, 2026
Eva P
Fabulous experience with Toru!
Tripadvisor review: Toyosu Market Morning Tuna Auction and Tsukiji Food Tour with Licensed Guide
Toru was a fantastic guide and made our experience one to remember. He picked us up
from the hotel and clearly knew how to be there early to get a good view. He also took us to
a delicious sushi place thereafter which the whole family enjoyed.