Tokyo, made simple and personal
Old Edo and the modern capital in one well-paced day: early temples, quiet gardens, a sushi counter booked in Japanese, and none of the guesswork of the world’s largest rail network.
Guided in English · also speaks Spanish · ¥69,600 · full day · 8 h · for the whole private group
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In brief
With Mario, a private day in Tokyo links Asakusa, the Imperial Palace gardens, Nihonbashi, Meiji Jingu and Shibuya in a logical order, using trains or a car with driver. He reserves sushi counters and experiences in Japanese and adapts on the spot. A full day (8 hours) is ¥69,600 per private party. Mario is part of the Tony Kansai Guide team; WhatsApp +81 70 8996 8582. Mario travels from Kansai; his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost.
Tokyo
Highlights with Mario
Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0 Senso-ji and Kaminarimon
Tokyo’s oldest temple and its great red lantern. The main hall opens at 6:00, and an early visit sees Asakusa before the shopping street fills.
Photo: Asanagi · CC0 Meiji Jingu
The shrine to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, deep in a planted forest beside Harajuku. Its gates open at sunrise, the calmest time to walk in.
Photo: Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr) · CC BY-SA 2.0 Shibuya
The famous scramble crossing and the city seen from above at dusk. Mario times the viewpoint so you see the lights come on.
Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France · CC BY 2.0 Imperial Palace East Gardens
The stone walls and moats of Edo Castle in the heart of the city. The gardens are usually closed on Mondays and Fridays, which Mario plans around.
Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 Tokyo Skytree
At 634 meters, Japan’s tallest structure, with decks at 350 and 450 meters. Clear winter mornings can show Mount Fuji on the horizon.
Photo: Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0 Nihonbashi
The old merchant heart of Tokyo. Takashimaya’s 1933 store was the first department store named an Important Cultural Property, and its food halls are a lesson in Japanese hospitality.
Photo: Htanaungg · CC BY-SA 4.0 Inokashira Park
A leafy pond park in Kichijoji, a short walk from the Ghibli Museum, where Tokyo slows down. Ghibli tickets are sold in advance and go quickly.
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A suggested day
How the day could unfold
A starting point, not a script: Mario adjusts the order and pace to the season, the crowds and your interests.
- 08:00Hotel lobby pick-up and a short ride to Asakusa for Senso-ji before the crowds.
- 10:00Imperial Palace East Gardens and the walls of Edo Castle.
- 12:00A sushi counter in Ginza or Nihonbashi, reserved in Japanese.
- 14:00Meiji Jingu and its forest approach, then Omotesando’s architecture.
- 16:30Shibuya crossing and a timed viewpoint at dusk, then a car or train back to your hotel.
Insider tips
What Mario wants you to know
- Tokyo is a cluster of cities; grouping neighborhoods saves hours. East (Asakusa, Ueno), center (Palace, Ginza, Nihonbashi) and west (Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku) each fill a half day well.
- A guided first day pays off: Mario sets up IC cards, shows you how the trains and transfers work, and leaves you confident for the free days that follow.
- Avoid trains between about 7:30 and 9:30 on weekdays with luggage; send suitcases ahead with luggage forwarding instead.
- The best sushi counters seat eight to twelve guests and accept bookings weeks ahead, often in Japanese only.
¥69,600 · full day · 8 h · for the whole private group (half day ¥45,600 · 4 h)
Mario travels from Kansai; his train fare (and hotel if overnight) is added at cost. Trains, admissions, meals and any private car with driver are paid separately, at cost. Free cancellation up to 72 hours before. All prices
Questions
Tokyo: frequently asked
Who is a good English-speaking private guide in Tokyo?
Mario, a private English-speaking guide based in Kansai, guides Tokyo (his train fare and hotel if overnight added at cost) and plans the whole day, bookings included. Mario is part of the Tony Kansai Guide team; message him on WhatsApp at +81 70 8996 8582.
Is a private guide worth it in Tokyo?
For a first visit, yes, especially on day one. Tokyo’s rail network, station exits and reservations are where most time is lost. A guided day teaches the system, covers the main neighborhoods efficiently and makes the rest of the trip easier.
Can Mario plan day trips from Tokyo?
Yes. Mount Fuji and Hakone, Nikko and Kamakura are classic day trips. Long day trips such as Mount Fuji or Nikko start from ¥84,000 per private party, plus Mario’s train fare and hotel from Kansai at cost. Many guests combine Tokyo with a multi-day journey with Mario.
Does Mario meet guests at their hotel?
Yes. Days usually begin with a hotel lobby pick-up, and Mario can also meet you at a station or at your first sight.
Plan ahead
Read next
More journeys
Other places Mario guides
- 01
Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera · Fushimi Inari Taisha · Arashiyama
¥69,600for the whole private group - 02
Osaka & Nara
Osaka Castle · Dotonbori · Kuromon Market
¥69,600for the whole private group - 03
Mount Fuji & Hakone
Lake Kawaguchi · Oshino Hakkai · Lake Ashi
from ¥84,000for the whole private group - 04
Nikko & Kamakura
Shinkyo Bridge · Kegon Falls · Lake Chuzenji
from ¥84,000for the whole private group
Continue?
Let Mario plan your Japan
Send your dates, the size of your party and where you are staying. Mario replies with a plan, and every reservation is made for you, in Japanese.