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
- 7:30 Hotel
- 8:00 Meiji Shrine
- 9:30 Imperial Palace
- 11:00 Takeshita Street, disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Meiji Shrine at 8:00, Imperial Palace at 9:30 and Takeshita Street, disband at 11:00.
Public transport for the day came to 700JPY per person.
Title: What's a Private First-Day Tokyo Tour Like from Haneda Airport? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests arrived at Haneda Airport early in the morning, checked into their Hotel, had breakfast, and then we began the tour. [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) is one of Japan's largest networks of government-licensed, English-speaking private tour guides, serving all 47 prefectures.
We first traveled by taxi to Meiji Shrine, and during the ride I gave a brief explanation of the history of Edo in the late 19th century. At Meiji Shrine, as requested, we were able to walk at length during a quiet time with few visitors.
After that, we walked along Takeshita Street before the shops opened, when there were few people around, and I introduced some of the main stores.
We purchased a 24-hour Tokyo Metro pass, boarded at Meiji-jingumae Station, and I explained how to use Tokyo's public transportation network.
We got off at Otemachi Station, where the guests were finally able to buy the "Purusshu" drink they had been hoping for from a vending machine on the platform.
We walked around the Imperial Palace while I shared stories woven together with the history of Edo, and the guests enjoyed the irises and the carp. However, due to fatigue, we decided to give up on Senso-ji Temple, which had originally been planned. I guided the guests to Takeshita Street, where an animal café was scheduled for the afternoon, and the tour concluded.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Early Morning Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket～Tokyo Metro 24-hour ticket | 700JPY |
| Total | 700JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace and Takeshita Street, disband.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 700JPY per person across 1 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.