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 Hotel
- 09:45 Koishikawa Korakuen
- 10:30 GIANTS Ball Park Tokyo
- 11:15 Rikugien
- 12:15 Shinjuku Station
- 12:30 Shinjuku Gyoen
- 13:32 Shinjuku East Exit, Ome Kaido
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Koishikawa Korakuen at 09:45, GIANTS Ball Park Tokyo at 10:30, Rikugien at 11:15, Shinjuku Station at 12:15, Shinjuku Gyoen at 12:30 and Shinjuku East Exit, Ome Kaido at 13:32.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Otemachi (Tokyo) to Iidabashi by subway (180JPY); Korakuen to Komagome by subway (180JPY); Komagome to Shinjuku by train (210JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 570JPY per person.
What Is a Rainy-Day Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. Throughout the tour there were many lively cultural comparisons and questions, which made guiding enjoyable.
Some memorable comments and exchanges during the walk included: 1. "This is like Times Square" (said the moment we came out onto Ome-kaido at the east exit of Shinjuku). 2. "People don't always observe traffic signals back home, but they do in the big city." 3. "Yes, there is a Neuse River back home, but no French influence there; that's further south." 4. "We eat river shrimp back home too." 5. "That's a magnolia; we have the same one in our garden, and there are more of them in the south." 6. "Oh, is there more Fengshui influence in Edo Castle? When was that?" 7. "Because of the land available, you don't worry about the topography now, a hill in the north and a waterway in the south?" 8. "We are going to Kyoto tomorrow." 9. "We already have Suica installed." 10. A question was asked about my previous line of work.
We walked more than 10,000 steps in the rain. We decided it was fine to skip the Nezu Museum, and the guests had a clear idea of the places they wanted to visit afterward. The plan from there was to head to a hotel with the Godzilla display, have a meal at the sushi restaurant and ramen shop there, and then take a stroll. At the guests' request, the tour concluded at that point.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Japanese Gardens Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Subway | Otemachi (Tokyo)～Iidabashi | 180JPY |
| Section 2 | Subway | Korakuen～Komagome | 180JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Komagome～Shinjuku | 210JPY |
| Total | 570JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Koishikawa Korakuen, GIANTS Ball Park Tokyo, Rikugien, Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Gyoen and Shinjuku East Exit, Ome Kaido.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 570JPY 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?
Hideaki 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, welcome to Japan you all.
I’m a resident of Ebina, Kanagawa, and am a national government licensed guide and interpreter.
I enjoy showing travelers both the new and old of central Honshu, primarily Tokyo and Kanagawa, ranging from Meiji Shrine, Edo Castle, Tsukiji Outer Market, Ueno, Asakusa, Ginza, Ginza Sky Farmstead, Shibuya Zebra Crossings, Yokohama, Kamakura, to Hakone, not to mention Mt. Fuji, and sharing views with my guests on Japanese homes and their surroundings, Japan’s labor productivity and labor market, among others.
I also enjoy introducing travelers to Japanese culture through home visits with Japanese families, touring Zen temples, and explaining the intricacies of Japanese culture.
I am happy to arrange personalized tours to other places of your interest.
I am making the most of my long experience as a foreign language education service, escorting VIPs at the Sony showroom in Ginza, Tokyo.
I also offer services to help families and individuals relocating to Japan with immigration VISA applications.
My hobbies are movies, strolling along the river in my neighborhood and am a novice at la lingua Italiano.
Let’s enjoy touring together, shall we?
Jul 16, 2026
135ulrikh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Private guide – a very good experience
We spent a half…
Jul 16, 2026
135ulrikh
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Private guide – a very good experience
We spent a half day with Hideaki Wada, which can be highly recommended. He was on time on the spot, very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and spoke good English. We made a plan, followed it and ended up with a little extra time.
Jun 21, 2026
CJW324
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Guided Tour & Tablet Guided Origami Experience
Unforgettable day in Tokyo with Hideaki — incredible with…
Jun 21, 2026
CJW324
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Guided Tour & Tablet Guided Origami Experience
Unforgettable day in Tokyo with Hideaki — incredible with kids
Hideaki was the highlight of our time in Tokyo. We were a group of six — two grandparents and two young kids — and he handled every dynamic with ease. Patient, warm, and endlessly accommodating, he read the energy of the group and adjusted the pace so no one ever felt rushed or left behind. He was especially wonderful with our kids, keeping them engaged and curious all day — from the grandeur of the Imperial Palace, to shopping, to the wonderful craziness of Shinjuku. As a licensed guide his knowledge was deep, but what set him apart was how genuinely kind and thoughtful he was with our whole family. If you want a guide who treats you like family and makes Tokyo come alive for all ages, book Hideaki. Highest possible recommendation — thank you, Hideaki!
May 20, 2026
olgalA154QQ
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with an excellent guide
Great experience! Our guide WADA Hideaki…
May 20, 2026
olgalA154QQ
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Great experience with an excellent guide
Great experience! Our guide WADA Hideaki was excellent! He was fully engaged and helpful!
He explained so many things and showed us everything we wanted to see.
Apr 19, 2026
Sightseer57474900023
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hideaki’s perfect first day in Tokyo!
Hideaki was an incredible guide and…
Apr 19, 2026
Sightseer57474900023
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hideaki’s perfect first day in Tokyo!
Hideaki was an incredible guide and my family had the most wonderful first day in Tokyo with him showing us the sights! We covered so much ground, learned a ton about the city and its history and truly got acclimated to Japan!
We clocked over 20k steps by end of day and hit at least 4 different areas of the city. Plus the lunch spot Hideaki took us was delicious! A perfect start to our trip and forever grateful to Hideaki for the fantastic memories!