Tokyo Private Custom Tour with Local Guide Highlights&Hidden Gems
Description
Thank you for visiting our page! We’d love to guide you through Tokyo—from iconic highlights to charming hidden spots in the historic downtown area. The route shown on our page features some of our most recommended places, perfect for first-time or returning visitors alike. However, this is a fully customizable tour, so we can adjust the itinerary based on the places you’d like to visit and the pace you prefer. Our diverse team includes a director from a family that has lived in downtown Tokyo for over 400 years, giving us deep local insight. We speak English, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, and Hebrew. We’re committed to creating an exceptional day filled with delicious food, meaningful discoveries, and memorable experiences. We travel efficiently using Tokyo’s excellent subway and JR lines. If you have dietary restrictions or special requests, please let us know in advance.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore the serene Imperial Palace area, where Tokyo’s history and modern cityscape blend beautifully. Stroll along the iconic stone walls and peaceful gardens while learning about the former residence of Japan’s emperors. This stop offers a refreshing contrast to the city’s lively districts and provides plenty of photo-worthy views.
Explore Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most beloved Buddhist temple. Walk through the famous Kaminarimon Gate and browse the lively Nakamise shopping street before reaching the majestic main hall. This stop combines history, culture, and the vibrant atmosphere of Tokyo’s traditional downtown.
Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by a vast forest in the heart of Tokyo. Learn about Shinto traditions as you walk through the tranquil grounds, offering a refreshing break from the city’s busy streets.
Experience the heart of Tokyo’s Kawaii culture in Harajuku, a vibrant area filled with colorful fashion, unique styles, and creative expression. This lively district blends youth culture with playful Kawaii energy, offering an exciting look into one of Tokyo’s most iconic cultural scenes.
Walk through the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing and feel the energy of Tokyo all around you. Crossing this dynamic intersection alongside people from every direction offers an exciting and uniquely Tokyo experience.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please let us know your hotel in Tokyo in advance. If you stay in a local house, please send us the exact URL on Google or your preferred meeting venue. Please note: If your booking is made within 24 hours of the tour/activity departure time, we will meet you at your hotel or other location in the city centre.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(36)
A fantastic day with Ari, who reached out prior to our arrival to see what we were interested in. We saw the Imperial Palace, Temples, the city in general, Temples and 5 story pagoda. Our hotel was near a building with a roof garden, and we didn't know if we could go up the top - and he took us up, wonderful views and we had lunch at restaurant there, he helped us choose from the menu, as we'd only been in Japan a few days. Ended our day with the serene gardens, at the Meiji Shrine, went on the quieter paths. Gave us tips about getting around Tokyo, really helped us orientate for rest of our stay there. We had great chats about cultural differences, he explained the Shinto/Buddhist connections. He was a wonderful, engaging and thoughtful guide. One of our most memorable days in Japan. Thank you Ari.
Thank you so much for this truly wonderful review! 🙏 It makes us so happy to hear that this was one of the most memorable days of your entire Japan trip! From the Imperial Palace and the five-story pagoda to that surprise rooftop garden and the serene paths of Meiji Shrine, it sounds like the perfect mix of discovery and magic! 🌿 Those moments — the cultural chats, the Shinto and Buddhist connections, helping with the menu — are exactly what make a tour truly special. We hope the rest of your Japan journey was just as incredible, and we'd love to welcome you back someday for another unforgettable adventure. Thank you again! 🗼✨
A really enjoyable day that was rather flexible and provided a good overview of Tokyo. We saw some places I don’t know we would have checked out on our own, on our first trip. Recommend doing this your first day or two in the city, as it’s also a good introduction to the subway and train system.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! 😊 We're really happy to hear that the day felt flexible and gave you a great introduction to Tokyo! That's exactly what we love — taking guests to spots they might not have discovered on their own and helping them feel more confident navigating the city. 🚃 And we totally agree with your tip — doing a tour on your first day or two is such a great way to get your bearings and make the most of the rest of your trip! We hope the rest of your Tokyo adventure was amazing, and we'd love to welcome you back someday for an even deeper dive into the city. Thanks again for the recommendation! 🗼
Tour guide met us at the hotel and got the tickets we needed. Mary gave us some interesting history along the way. We went to Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, and Harajuku. Weather was crazy hot and humid but the sights were so neat. Thankful for the a/c in the trains.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 😊 We're really glad Mary was there to take great care of you from the very start — from the hotel meetup to getting all the tickets sorted! Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, and Harajuku are such iconic spots, and we hope her stories brought each place to life in a special way. 🌸 Tokyo summers can be seriously intense, so we totally get the struggle — but it sounds like the amazing sights made it all worth it! And yes, thank goodness for air-conditioned trains! 🚃❄️ We hope you have wonderful memories from your Tokyo adventure and that we get to welcome you back someday — maybe in slightly cooler weather next time! 😄 Thanks again for the kind words!
Very good guide, lots of knowledge and he showed us a versatile view of Tokyo. Very educational and varied. Metro was doable, but you miss the coherence in the city
Thank you so much for your kind words and honest feedback! 😊 We're really glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it educational and varied — that's exactly what we aim for! We also really appreciate you mentioning the metro experience. You make a great point — while Tokyo's train system is efficient, it can sometimes make it harder to get a feel for how the different parts of the city connect together. It's valuable feedback that we'll definitely keep in mind to make future tours even better! 🙏 We hope Tokyo left you with lots of wonderful memories, and we'd love to welcome you back someday for another adventure! 🗼
Very well done tour. Our tour guide Aki reached out prior to the trip to understand what we were looking for, our group size and ages and physical abilities. We have 2 kids on their first big international trip ages 10 and 13. He customized the trip perfectly with just the right amount of culture, history and shopping. Explained the significance and history and was extremely helpful with tips and guidance for the rest of our trip. He worked hard the full day! The kids had a blast. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience, highly recommend!
Thank you so much for this amazing review! 🙏 It warms our hearts to hear that Aki made such a special first international trip for your whole family — especially for your two kids! 🎉 The fact that he reached out beforehand to really understand your group and then tailored the day so perfectly shows exactly the dedication he brings to every tour. Getting that balance of culture, history, and shopping just right for a family with kids is no easy task, and it sounds like he nailed it! We're so glad the little ones had a blast and hope this trip sparked a lifelong love of travel for them. 😊 We'll make sure to pass along your kind words to Aki — he'll be so happy to hear this. Thanks again for the wonderful recommendation, and we hope to see your family back in Tokyo someday! 🗼
We chose not to visit the typical historical sites we might visit in another city. Instead the tour focused on the daily experience and culture of life in Tokyo. We saw active neighborhoods, markets and shopping districts. We gained a lot of perspective into Japanese attitudes and life. It was very informative and fascinating. Our tour guide was a Westerner who has lived here over twenty years, providing him with terrific insights.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! 🙏 We love hearing that you chose to dive deep into the real, everyday Tokyo rather than the usual tourist trail — that's exactly the kind of experience we're passionate about creating! From the bustling neighborhoods to the markets and shopping districts, there's so much to discover when you look at the city through the eyes of someone who truly knows it. 😊 Having a guide who has called Tokyo home for over twenty years really does make all the difference, and we're so glad that came through in your tour! We hope the insights you gained left you with a deeper appreciation for Japanese life and culture. We'd love to welcome you back for another unique adventure someday! 🗼
Aki was really good and knowledgeable of the area, it was fun to go on this tour he helped us a lot and even gave recommendations of what else to do in Tokyo.
Hi Nia! We're super happy to hear that you found Aki knowledgeable, fun to tour with and he gave helpful recommendations. Thank you!
We had an amazing day filled with history culture and tasteful dining. Saiji so knowledgeable, his English is amazing what made it very helpful for us. We’ve learned so much we highly recommend him !!!
Thank you Motybe! Japanese food is our national treasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it along with a day filled with history and culture. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Seiji is a great tour guide with a wonderful personality. He made this tour truly memorable and we would have no hesitation in recommending him for your tours in Tokyo. His knowledge and experience was tremendous. What a wonderful experience.
Thank you very much Helen. I appreciate the recommendations to your friends and am happy you found the tour a wonderful experience!
This is was the perfect setup for spending one day in tokyo Hayato was like a friend i knew from before and was casually showing me around the best places and eating at local spots He had such a flexible schedule to changes It made us cover so many things in one day Didnt expect i could do so much in one day and not waste time trying to figure out my next step Kodus for hayato and the team for being able to customize this nicely
Thank you! We'll let Hayato know that he made the tour enjoyable, and that his flexibiilty made it possible to cover many of your top priorities in a day. Tokyo can seem overwhelming, but we know how to make our wonderful city feel manageable!
