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
- 8:00 Meet at the hotel, board the train
- 9:30 Oshiage Station
- 10:00 Skytree, Solamachi
- 11:30 Board the train
- 12:00 Tsukiji, lunch
- 14:00 Board the train
- 14:30 Meguro Station
- 14:45 Starbucks Roastery
- 15:20 Board the train
- 16:00 Arrive at the hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Oshiage Station at 9:30, Skytree, Solamachi at 10:00, Board the train at 11:30, Tsukiji, lunch at 12:00, Board the train at 14:00, Meguro Station at 14:30, Starbucks Roastery at 14:45 and Board the train at 15:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ishikawacho to Shimbashi by train (571JPY); Shimbashi to Oshiage by subway (220JPY); Ningyocho to Tsukiji by subway (97JPY); Tsukiji to Naka-Meguro by subway (209JPY); Naka-Meguro to Motomachi-Chukagai Station by train (533JPY). Across 5 sections the fare came to 1,630JPY per person.
What Is a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Skytree, Tsukiji, and Starbucks Reserve Roastery
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since one of the guests had experience working at a travel agency, we had planned the itinerary together in advance, but when I met the guests in person on the day, their preferences turned out to be a little different, so I made some last-minute changes to part of the plan.
First, we went up to the Tembo Galleria of Tokyo Skytree using tickets they had purchased in advance. They enjoyed the height. They interacted with students on a school trip, taking photos together and quizzing them about where they were from.
Next, I had planned for us to go to Tsukiji and eat sushi, but they said, "Is sushi raw fish? We can't eat that," so we went to a tempura rice bowl restaurant instead. It turned out they could enjoy it since it was cooked, and they said the sauce was exquisite.
After that, we went to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, which they enjoyed, saying it was like a theme park of coffee.
Since they were going on a cruise trip starting Sunday, and it was raining, I also helped them reserve a taxi in advance.
They were extremely satisfied, and they even asked me whether there was a site where they could leave a review of this tour.
Click here for more details: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ishikawacho～Shimbashi | 571JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Shimbashi～Oshiage | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Subway | Ningyocho～Tsukiji | 97JPY |
| Section 4 | Subway | Tsukiji～Naka-Meguro | 209JPY |
| Section 5 | Train | Naka-Meguro～Motomachi-Chukagai Station | 533JPY |
| Total | 1,630JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Oshiage Station, Skytree, Solamachi, Board the train, Tsukiji, lunch, Board the train, Meguro Station, Starbucks Roastery and Board the train.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,630JPY per person across 5 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?
Sam 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.
Hi, I’m Sam.
I am happy to welcome you all to Japan.
Since I was a child, my parents welcomed many international students into our home and I had many opportunities to interact with them. My mother is a translator, and I have always seen her guiding foreigners around Japan, so it was natural for me to start doing the same.
I am good at guiding people to popular places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Asakusa, as well as photogenic spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Since I was a child, I’ve watched anime like Pokémon and played Nintendo games, and I still buy around 100 manga comic books a month. I love shopping in Akihabara! I currently live in Urayasu City, Chiba, so close that I can see fireworks from Disneyland from my house every night.
Please feel free to ask me anything!
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience.…
Jul 10, 2026
Brooke_J
Viator review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Tokyo History Modernized!
This tour was a wonderful experience. Sayumi-San (Sam) was an absolutely amazing tour guide. She met me at my hotel and was a complete professional from the word ‘go.’ We did a good amount of walking to the sights/sites and rode the train to some places that were farther away from each other. Sam was very knowledgeable about the history of Japan and the places we visited. She was very respectful of my interests and curated a tour that fit well with what I wanted to see. I can’t say enough wonderful things about her and the tour.
The six hour tour included lunch. I recommend bringing water, though, while walking around and bringing a hat or small umbrella because the sun can be brutal. Finally, wear comfortable shoes.
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our…
Jun 19, 2026
Catherine_S
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience!
We had a wonderful time with Sam, who took our requests and made them into a
manageable itinerary. She was wonderful with our daughter, too! Highly recommended.
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She…
Jun 7, 2026
Elena_Q
Viator review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun visit to Tokyo!
Wonderful customized tour of Tokyo with Sam. She meticulously coordinated our itinerary based on our preferences and included great local places to eat that were reasonably priced and delicious. Her insights and own personal experiences made the visit extra special.
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an…
May 12, 2026
Leonard B
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 8hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Awesome experience with a very knowledgeable friendly guide.
We had an amazing time in our tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, professional and friendly. We hit all of the main sites in Tokyo. Each stop our guide walked us through the experience and we felt immersed in the local culture. Would highly recommend this tour guide.