Recently Viewed
Tokyo Private Tour: Explore Modern and Traditional Tokyo with a Government-Licensed Guide
5.0
23 Ratings
Asakusa
Experience the best of modern and traditional Tokyo on a private tour with a government-licensed guide. Customize your itinerary and explore the dynamic Japanese capital in just one day!
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Asakusa - This tour will allow you to explore Tokyo more efficiently in one day. Meet at your hotel, then move to anywhere you want. You can visit 3 to 4 spots in 6 hours, please choose the places you like to visit from the list below and customize your tour with your guide! - Imperial Palace - This tour will allow you to explore Tokyo more efficiently in one day. Meet at your hotel, then move to anywhere you want. You are not able to visit inside the Imperial Palace. - Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s largest and most popular parks. Located a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the park’s spacious lawns, meandering walking paths, and tranquil scenery provide a relaxing escape from the busy urban center around it. In spring, Shinjuku Gyoen becomes one of the best places in the city to see cherry blossoms. - Shibuya Crossing - This tour will allow you to explore Tokyo more efficiently in one day. Meet at your hotel, then move to anywhere you want. - Tsukiji Fish Market - Explore the old fish market in Tokyo! - Meiji Jingu Shrine - Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line’s busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll. The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. - Akihabara - Akihabara (秋葉原), also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March). - Koishikawa Korakuen Garden - Koishikawa Korakuen (小石川後楽園, Koishikawa Kōrakuen) is one of Tokyo’s oldest and best Japanese gardens. It was built in the early Edo Period (1600-1867) at the Tokyo residence of the Mito branch of the ruling Tokugawa family. Like its namesake in Okayama, the garden was named Korakuen after a poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people. Koishikawa is the district in which the garden is located. - Hama Rikyu Gardens - Hama Rikyu (浜離宮, Hama Rikyū), is a large, attractive landscape garden in central Tokyo. Located alongside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu features seawater ponds which change level with the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can rest and enjoy the scenery. The traditionally styled garden stands in stark contrast to the skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district. - Tokyo National Museum - The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) is the oldest and largest of Japan’s top-level national museums, which also include the Kyoto National Museum, the Nara National Museum, and the Kyushu National Museum. It was originally established in 1972 at Yushima Seido Shrine and moved to its current location in Ueno Park a few years later. The Tokyo National Museum features one of the largest and best collections of art and archeological artifacts in Japan, made up of over 110,000 individual items including nearly a hundred national treasures. At any one time, about 4000 different items from the permanent museum collection are on display. In addition, visiting temporary exhibitions are also held regularly. Good English information and audio guides are available. - Senso-ji Temple - Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo’s most colorful and popular temples. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo’s oldest temple. - Rikugien Garden - Rikugien (六義園) is often considered Tokyo’s most beautiful Japanese landscape garden alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Built around 1700 for the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Rikugien literally means “six poems garden” and reproduces in miniature 88 scenes from famous poems. The garden is a good example of an Edo Period strolling garden and features a large central pond surrounded by manmade hills and forested areas, all connected by a network of trails. - Yoyogi Park - Yoyogi Park (代々木公園, Yoyogi Kōen) is one of Tokyo’s largest city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds, and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking, and other outdoor activities. Although Yoyogi Park has relatively few cherry trees compared to other sites in Tokyo, it makes for a nice cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. Furthermore, it is known for its ginko tree forest, which turns intensely golden in autumn. - Takeshita Street - Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo’s Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights. The focal point of Harajuku’s teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands, and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend-conscious teens. - Odaiba District - Odaiba (お台場) is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It originated as a set of small man-made fort islands (daiba literally means “fort”), which were built towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868) to protect Tokyo against possible attacks from the sea and specifically in response to the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry. More than a century later, the small islands were joined into larger islands by massive landfills, and Tokyo began a spectacular development project aimed to turn the islands into a futuristic residential and business district during the extravagant 1980s. But development was critically slowed after the burst of the “bubble economy” in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant. - Shibamata - Shibamata (柴又) is a neighborhood on the eastern end of Tokyo, not far from the Edogawa River which is the natural border between Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture. The town retains its old-school charm from yesteryear and is a perfect break away from modern Tokyo. One of the main attractions to see is the Shibamata Taishakuten Temple not far from the station. - Nezu - Having miraculously avoided major damage during world wars and natural disasters, Yanaka and Nezu—two of the neighborhoods that make up shitamachi, Tokyo’s old downtown—retain their last-century charm. You’ll find historical sites such as Yanaka Cemetery and Nezu Shrine tucked away among shitamachi’s narrow back alleys, traditional wooden houses, izakaya pubs, atmospheric coffee shops, and retro stores selling old-style sweets and snacks. Here you can slip back in time to a slower-paced, more genteel Tokyo. - Shinjuku Golden Gai - Golden Gai is said to have started around 1950 when the black market that had arisen in front of Shinjuku Station moved and, in this new area, a number of eating and drinking establishments set up shop. Although Shinjuku has undergone considerable modernization since then, Golden Gai seems to have remained largely unchanged. The alley is narrow and cramped with countless signs advertising the various establishments that line the way. Many of the buildings themselves are made of wood, remnants hanging on from the Showa Era. Most measure only around thirteen square meters (one hundred forty-two square feet). It’s a dim, boisterous place filled with the aromatic smoke of grilling meats. Yet despite the nearly endless number of slick new restaurants available in Shinjuku, this little alley continues to draw the attention of foreign tourists. Golden Gai is a popular “un-touristy” tourist spot. - Tokyo Tower - The retro cute version of Tokyo Sky tree! This vermillion tower has been a symbol of Tokyo for a generation and can be seen in the background of many famous animes! Note: The remaining time is for the round tour and time spent sightseeing or explorations.
What's Included
- Customizable Walking Tour of 3-4 chosen sites
- Meet up with a local guide in Tokyo
- On-foot pick up/drop off service
- Tour with a licensed local guide
What's Not Included
- Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
- Private Vehicle
- You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
- Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.
Additional Information
Enjoy an efficient, one-day tour of Tokyo accompanied by a government-licensed and experienced multilingual guide! Your guide will introduce both modern and traditional aspects of this dynamic Japanese capital.
Due to the enormous size of Tokyo, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, a one-day tour would probably focus on one small area, which would still leave you in awe at the scale of the city. Tokyo is where you can experience both modern and traditional, and your experienced private guide will help you efficiently enjoy a full day in this dynamic Japanese capital. Let us know what you would like to experience, and we will customize a six-hour tour that’s best for you!
Note1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.
Note2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
- Tour dates can be changed up to 2 days before the tour. Any tour date change may result in a change of tour guide or tour unavailability.
- This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.
Location
Asakusa
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(23 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rashl5
Jun 7, 2024
Excellent tour guide for our family. - Kenzo was an excellent guide. He reached out before our tour to enquire what was of interest and then proposed an itinerary for the day. One of the sights required a reservation, which he made for us. He was a great guide to spend the day with and showed us many wonderful things. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Awhsnow
Jun 4, 2024
Great experience with Kris - My wife and I completed a 8-hour tour of Tokyo with our guide Kris. We visited 6 sites across Tokyo, compiling almost 30,000 steps. Our guide was excellent, with great insights and color. Overall, he really made Tokyo come alive for us.
We visited:
Hamarikyu Gardens
Akihabara Electrical Town
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Shibuya Crossing
Imperial Palace East Gardens
Asakusa
8 hours is a long tour. But TBH, we probably could have visited 2 or 3 more sites if we had moved a little faster.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamie_b
May 30, 2024
Highly recommended Private Tour Company in Tokyo - From the very beginning, Japan Guide Agency was very professional and prompt in answering my emails and questions. Therefore, we booked 2 tours with the company and have no regrets.
Guide: Taka Oshiyama
We had a full day tour of Tokyo with Guide Taka. He met us in our hotel lobby and we started our tour by walking across to the Shibuya train station. We visited Sensoji Temple, Ueno Park, Akihabara, Shinjuku Golden Gai and a side visit to Dawn Avatar Café as requested by me.
Our day was full of walking and as I had an injured foot, Guide Taka took time to always check on my condition throughout the day. Taka showed great pride in Tokyo and was easy going and attentive. Taka is presented as a seasoned, compassionate tour guide who loves his work. Taka advised us at the beginning of the tour that he would be taking photos of us with his phone and would transfer the photos to our phone at the end of the tour. This lifted the burden of us having to worry about getting a photo at each location and bothering others to take a photo of my husband and me. When we returned home, we realized that this was the only tour we took during our 1-month vacation that had so many photos of us together at each site. We thought this was a great idea and it really made our trip even more memorable. Highly recommend both this company and Guide Taka for a private tour of Tokyo.
Review provided by Viator
Kehau
May 30, 2024
Highly recommended for a private tour in Tokyo Japan - From the very beginning, Japan Guide Agency was very professional and prompt in answering my emails and questions. Therefore, we booked 2 tours with the company and have no regrets.
Guide: Taka Oshiyama
We had a full day tour of Tokyo with Guide Taka. He met us in our hotel lobby and we started our tour by walking across to the Shibuya train station. We visited Sensoji Temple, Ueno Park, Akihabara, Shinjuku Golden Gai and a side visit to Dawn Avatar Café as requested by me.
Our day was full of walking and as I had an injured foot, Guide Taka took time to always check on my condition throughout the day. Taka showed great pride in Tokyo and was easy going and attentive. Taka is presented as a seasoned, compassionate tour guide who loves his work. Taka advised us at the beginning of the tour that he would be taking photos of us with his phone and would transfer the photos to our phone at the end of the tour. This lifted the burden of us having to worry about getting a photo at each location and bothering others to take a photo of my husband and me. When we returned home, we realized that this was the only tour we took during our 1-month vacation that had so many photos of us together at each site. We thought this was a great idea and it really made our trip even more memorable. Highly recommend both this company and Guide Taka for a private tour of Tokyo.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
801allenw
May 29, 2024
Fantastic Tour of Tokyo! - Our recent tour of Tokyo with Ken Takahashi was an exceptional experience that I highly recommend to anyone visiting this vibrant city! I've already been to Tokyo 3 times prior, but it was my girlfriend's first time so I wanted to give her the full experience. Ken Takahashi, our guide, is a knowledgeable and charismatic individual whose excellent English skills and engaging personality made the tour both enjoyable and informative.
It was only our second day in Japan so we were a bit jetlagged - the great thing about personal tours is that they go at your own pace! We visited the Imperial Palace, Akihabara, Asakusa and Shinjuku Gyoen all in one day - and Ken Takahashi's knowledge and diligent preparation made the tour smooth and thoroughly enjoyable!
You won't regret booking this tour, especially if you are short on time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Go65518678924
May 23, 2024
Great day touring Eastern Tokyo - Kei was knowledgeable and so helpful! We traveled with 7 people in our group and were able to see so much and learn about the history and culture of Japan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sofir932
May 22, 2024
Amazing - We had an amazing day with Yoko!
We visited beautiful places and it was a pleasure sharing time with her, she speaks very good english!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenniferne3872ea
May 19, 2024
Awesome - Haruhiko Yokota was amazing. Very knowledgeable on historical and cultural events. Delightful to be around. Hope to see him again some day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
433aldenj
May 19, 2024
Informational and fun! - Our tour guide, Haru, was amazing! He was very knowledgeable about everywhere he took us. We had a lot of fun and would definitely ask for him again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elisaj986
May 6, 2024
8hrs Private Tour - Kei was fantastic! Great guide, we had an incredible day. Very knowledgeable about history, we completed the proposed itinerary perfectly. Excellent communication from the moment of reservation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
