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
- 9:00 Meet at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
- 8:40 Imperial Palace East Gardens
- 11:10 Hamarikyu Gardens
- 13:10 Light meal at Starbucks near Meiji-jingumae Station
- 13:40 Meiji Shrine
- 14:45 Shinjuku Gyoen
- 14:55 Disband at Shinjuku Gyoen
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Tokyo began at 9:00, when the guide met the guests at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro, and finished at 14:55. The day ran to 5 hours and 55 minutes from start to finish.
From there the group visited Imperial Palace East Gardens at 8:40, Hamarikyu Gardens at 11:10, Light meal at Starbucks near Meiji-jingumae Station at 13:10, Meiji Shrine at 13:40 and Shinjuku Gyoen at 14:45.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ikebukuro to Takebashi by train (600JPY); Otemachi to Shimbashi by train (0JPY); Shimbashi to Meiji-jingumae by train (0JPY); Meiji-jingumae to Shinjuku-sanchome by train (0JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 600JPY per person.
**title:** What Is a Private Rainy-Day Garden Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
**body:**
It was a cold, rainy day, with strong gusts of wind at times, so the weather was unfortunately not ideal. Since the guests preferred to walk slowly, we took our time throughout the day. When we met in the morning, they mentioned they had visited Asakusa the previous day, so considering the weather and the slower pace, we decided to skip Asakusa and instead visit the Imperial Palace East Gardens, Hamarikyu Gardens, Meiji Shrine, and Shinjuku Gyoen.
The guests enjoyed gardening as a hobby and had many questions about plants and gardens. They also asked many questions about culture and traditions. At the Imperial Palace East Gardens, there were three cherry trees in full bloom, which they were delighted to see. At Hamarikyu Gardens, they enjoyed the last of the plum blossoms and the rapeseed flowers. After I explained the grounds at Shinjuku Gyoen, our time was up and we parted ways.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Japanese Gardens Private Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ikebukuro～Takebashi | 600JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Otemachi～Shimbashi | 0JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Shimbashi～Meiji-jingumae | 0JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Meiji-jingumae～Shinjuku-sanchome | 0JPY |
| Total | 600JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro at 9:00, and the tour finished at Shinjuku Gyoen at 14:55.
How long does the tour last?
About 5 hours and 55 minutes in total, from 9:00 to 14:55.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Imperial Palace East Gardens, Hamarikyu Gardens, Light meal at Starbucks near Meiji-jingumae Station, Meiji Shrine and Shinjuku Gyoen.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 600JPY per person across 4 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?
Koba 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.
My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
Please call me Koba.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly appreciated his knowledge of the history of Tokyo and Japan and his very pleasant demeanor. He is a true gentleman and was a pleasure to tour with in Tokyo.
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit…
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit to Tokyo, and our tour with Koba made the experience truly exceptional. We’re a family of four with two teenage boys (14 and 16), and Koba was wonderfully kind, patient, and engaging with each of us. The experience started even before we arrived—his first communications laid out a thoughtful, customized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests as first-time visitors. Our six hours together were full, seamless, and incredibly rewarding. Koba’s deep knowledge of the city, his attention to detail, and his warm, easygoing approach made the tour an ideal fit for our family. It was the perfect way to get a broad yet meaningful introduction to Tokyo in a short time. We’re so grateful he was our guide and highly recommend him to anyone visiting the city.
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience…
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience see learned a lot about Tokyo and our guide Koba was perfect in every way and very helpful. We had a perfect time together.Thank you Koba
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family…
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family and I. He was patient and helped carry a large toy my daughter won. I wished we had another day. Having a guide saved us hours of navigating the subway and metro.