Discover Tokyo at your own pace on this 4- or 8-hour private, custom tour with guide. Design a tour that’s perfect for your interests. There’s a world of options, including the outer fish market at Tsukiji, the city’s temples and shrines, shopping excursions and food or sake tours. Your private custom tour includes a guide, entrance fees at select attractions, snacks, round-trip transport from your hotel with meet-and-greet and a car (for the private transfer option), or public transport (for the public transfer) and optional lunch (for the full-day tour).

Let an experienced guide help you create a half-day or full-day sightseeing itinerary
See city attractions like Meiji Shrine and the Imperial Palace, or discover Tokyo neighborhoods, depending on your interests
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (if full-day tour selected)
Explore the city by train and subway, or upgrade for transport by comfortable, private vehicle

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

This private, fully-customizable tour lets you choose between taking private or public transport.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off (if by private vehicle)
Meet-and-greet service at hotel (if by public transport)
Professional guide
Transport by private vehicle (if by private vehicle)
Transportation fares (if by public transport)
Lunch (full-day option only)
Snacks

Fees for optional tours, activities and lessons
Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

09:00 am

Pickup details

Additional charge will apply if meeting point located outside of Tokyo (if by private vehicle) Meeting point must be within Tokyo. (if by public transport)

What To Expect

Create your dream tour of Tokyo during a 4- or 8-hour private, custom tour with a guide. Whether you’re into food, Japanese culture, history, shopping or something more specific, you can design an exploration that’s right for you.

Select your desired tour length of either a half-day tour (4 hours) or a full-day tour, (spanning 8 hours) and how much sightseeing you’d like to fit into it. The choice is yours, ranging from leisurely walking tours, utilizing Tokyo’s excellent public transport system, to an upgrade with private vehicle to whisk you between the city’s top sights.

Read below for some potential options you might visit during your custom designed trip.

The Tsukiji Market

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Hama Rikyu Gardens

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Ginza

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Asakusa

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Meiji Jingu Shrine

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Additional expenses will be advised upon discussion with our tour operator, based on the customized itinerary
Operation dates for attractions are subject to availability
Visiting optional attractions may incur an additional fee. Please consult with tour operator for any questions
Wheelchair accessible

Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travellers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Natalie_S

Hiro was such an excellent tour guide. He is very knowledgeable and smart and gave us a great overview of Tokyo. He also took us to some cool spots and shops that we would never have known about otherwise. We learned so much from him about Tokyo’s history and culture. He is a very kind man and we enjoyed spending the day with him. We highly recommend his services.

Reviews

5.0

467 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 467 reviews

Most do when I’m Tokyo, best decision!

Oluwatosin_B, June 2023

This was one of the most informative and thorough tours I’ve been on, Yuri San is phenomenal and very attentive. She made sure we were comfortable through out and planned the route in a way that suited our day. I could not sing her praises enough, the best tour guide. It was a great day filled with laughs, great lunch, beautiful views and lots of knowledge gained. My brother and I will never forget. Thank you so much.

Let's have fun!

roderick_s, June 2023

This was the guides motto for the trip & it certainly lived up to it! We asked to see those places that Tokyo residents go to (so not the usual tourist spots) and that's what we got, a great insight into how locals shop, eat & spend their time. The trip was constantly adjusted to fit in with our requirements. We finished the fun with an evening in Shinjuku, with our guide putting in extra time so we got the experience we'd asked for. If you can get Miyuki as a guide, you won't be disappointed & will have fun!

Response from Host, June 2023

Hi Rod & Jane, Yes ! We really had a fun ! You guys were very curious and I had a lot of fun guiding you around like old friends. Please be sure to stop by Tokyo when you come to Hokkaido next month. I will take you to my secret place where there are no tourists, so please look forward to it! Miyuki

Great full day in Tokyo

DIMPLE_S, June 2023

We had a wonderful experience on this tour. Our tour guide, Kaori, was incredibly knowledgeable and custom-tailored our tour based upon communications she had with us in the days prior. It was perfect. We were so happy to be able to see so many sites in one day. It was a great introduction to Tokyo. She even found us a terrific do-it-yourself Okonomiyaki restaurant so that we could have a delicious vegetarian lunch. We highly recommend this tour.

Private 1/2 Tour ~ Not a good experience.

Maura_B, June 2023

My husband and I booked a this 1/2 day tour through Viator, who then used "Venture" in Tokyo. Our tour guide Seiji was super nice so I have been struggling with writing this review but feel very strongly that we were charged $399 for a horrible experience. Seiji wore a mask and we respect that however his English was not very good and the mask didn't help. He walked very fast and it was hard to keep up with him. His knowledge about a couple of places we visited was limited and he didn't offer any extra interesting facts about Tokyo. He kept saying "where else do you want to go?" I told him it was our first time and gave him some highlights; however we expected HE would offer up interesting places to go in the time we paid for but he didn't. At our last stop "Ueno Park" (a very famous place) he had very little knowledge about what we saw, so we gave up ~ asked him to guide us back to the hotel via the train. The next day we went to the Meiji Shrine on our own and overheard a tour guide who not only was explaining what the shrine was about but gave history about Japan culture etc. THAT is how a private tour guide should work. My advice would be to investigate FULLY who your tour guide will be.

Response from Host, June 2023

Thank you for joining our tour in early May. Half a day is too short and it is difficult to visit many tourist attractions in a limited time. Your guide respected your request and came up with a plan, but we are sorry to hear that there was a miscommunication between you and him. He regrets that he could not give a satisfactory explanation. We will make every effort to improve our guide's skills through training.

We had a blast

Sandy_F, May 2023

We had such a blast! Thanks to our tour guide Ms Ai! She was so understanding and accommodating. We did everything on our “must see” list. And helped translate when we needed a translator. The private tour is must booked. Go at your own pace!

Response from Host, June 2023

From Ai Sandy, thank you so much for sharing the exciting moment and your family time with me! Seeing you all enjoying food at Tsukiji Outer Market, shopping at Asakusa and walking in peaceful East Garden was a great pleasure for me. Your big smiles will stay in my memory. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Must go tour

Norma_M, May 2023

PRIVATE tour - Yoshi was the PERFECT person for us; an adventurer, fun and knowledgeable about everything we had questions for. He took us to the most popular spots and (as important) to places we never ever would have come to. He seemed to have personal connections with shops and places that only enhanced the experience for us to be apart of his world while exploring our own. Only two of us was great but we wished we had brought our bigger group along too. Either way we did SO much in the short amount of time we almost felt like we saw all of Tokyo! From fish markets, to shops, temples and shrines and subway etiquette we’re really happy we did this on our first full day.

Memorable experience exploring the less-touristy areas in Tokyo

Caroline_S, May 2023

I highly recommend this tour with Bob (Nobhuhiro Akamatsu). He was very professional and kind and helped loop in other tour guides who answered my questions on Japanese history in great detail. The tour took me to areas of Tokyo I would have never been able to locate by myself and the stops were accompanied with lots of information. Because this tour is personalized I suggest you tell the tour guides your interest so you can get the most out of it. Tokyo is very tourist friendly, so the major attractions are easier to go to by yourself, but there are a lot of hidden and older areas in the city that a private tour can enhance.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you for your great review on the Tokyo tour Caroline! I am glad you had a good time in the exciting city. I'm was very glad to see that and your expressions and impressions. However, Tokyo of course has many spots to enjoy, so someday, please come back here and explore other elements. Again, I'm really proud that I'd led your tour. See you soon. Bob

Our tour guide was very...

Thais_F, May 2023

Our tour guide was very polite and on time, however she provided NO guidance whatsoever. Literally none. She limited herself to take us to places (she would not even tell us where we were heading unless we asked). As an exemple: we were walking by a busy street by senju temple (that I later found it had some history) - I asked what was that and her answer was “a street”. Sadly this tour was NOT worth the money we spent and I would not recommend it. Hope this review helps improving the experience for other people.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you for participating in our tour. We are sorry to hear that we couldn't allocate a guide that can give you a satisfactory explanation this time. Maybe the half day was too short to explain enough. We will focus on the training of the guide so that this kind of thing will never happen again. There are still many places to see and visit in Tokyo. I hope we can guide you again the next time you come to Japan.

Half day historic overview of Tokyo

Roberto_S, May 2023

Kiyo, our guide, was very proactive reaching out to set an itinerary according to our taste. We got a nice historic overview without having to worry about logistics and at our pace versus a Group tour. The Meiji Shrine was the highlight of the tour.

Great introduction to Tokyo!

Pam_B, May 2023

Hiroko was a fantastic and helpful host in Tokyo! She went out of her way to ensure we saw the sites that we were most interested in. She also helped us understand the culture and way of life as we visited many enjoyable and beautiful places. Hiroko even helped us get Shinkansen tickets at the very busy Tokyo Station. Thank you Hiroko!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you of the recommendation and 5 star review for our custom tour and leader Hiroko. We love to receive these great comments Pam and are always glad people have a great time with us in Tokyo. Happy travels and please contact us again for anything you need while in Japan.

Okay experience, not worth remembering.

Sambaran_M, May 2023

Private custom tour was not much fun for us. Maybe half day was not enough. I could have gathered more information and insight from a tourist guide book. Since we were on a long holiday to Japan, we could have done it ourselves. Maybe this trip is for people in a real hurry.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you for taking part in our tour. Half a day is too short a time. We regret that we could not reach you before the tour and discuss the itinerary with you sufficiently as this is our usual procedure that works well. Tokyo has many wonderful places to visit. We are sure that next time you come to Japan, we will be able to show you more of what you want to see.

Great guide

Bridget_M, May 2023

Hiroko was great at showing us around Tokyo and explaining the history of different sites. She even gave us recommendations for what to do later on our trip

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you so much for joining the tour on the next day of arrival in Tokyo as a starter of your holidays. We are grateful to have guided you and given information about tourist destinations including Hakone. I hope you had wonderful vacation in Japan, and will come back in the future.

Great way to get Oriented to Tokyo

Enrique_C, May 2023

This tour got off to a very rocky start as a different guide than the one we were supposed to have took off with us and set us back by an hour. Eventually the confusion was rectified and we got lucky with our new guide Miho. We were first introduced to subway cards and how to use the system. This alone was the most valuable aspect of the tour as the Tokyo system is quite complicated but very important for getting around the city. Our first stop was at the fascinating old fish market area near the Ginza, this is a must for food lovers. Milho guided us through the many stalls and described all of the unique foods and delicacies being sold. Wild and crowded scene, great taste of Tokyo. Milho then took us walking and by train to several parks and temples first stopping for coffee and then for a lunch of Kobe Beef. The temples were fascinating and beautiful. Milho then walked us back to our hotel in Shinjuku. It was our first full day in Tokyo and I would recommend this to any first time visitor but remember to check your invoice with your guide before starting out in the morning. We did the full day tour and were exhausted at the end but very satisfied and ready to tackle the rest of this exciting city.

The best tour to see Tokyo

Magali_F, May 2023

This is the BEST tour to see Tokyo. Yumi our guide was very knowledgeable and did an excellent job. Even with rain she managed to show us all the sites and took pictures and then sent them all with the names of the places. Do ask for Yumi if you can. Can’t say enough good things about this tour and about her! Excellent communication starting prior to make sure she catered to our needs.

Response from Host, June 2023

From Yumi Hi, Magali. Thank you very much for your review. I wish it had been fine and I could have shown you the panoramic view from the Shibuya Sky! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Japan as I know it was a very special occasion for your family.

A great way to experience Tokyo in a day

Jeffrey_S, May 2023

Our group had an excellent time walking around with Yoko. A few highlights we enjoyed visiting included the Meji Jingu shrine, fish market, Hamarikyu gardens, Senso-ji temple / Asakusa shrine and all the vendors on Nakamise street. We appreciated all the detailed facts and history Yoko provided at every stop.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you Jeffrey for the recommendation and 5 star review for our custom tour and leader Yoko. We love to receive these great comments and are always glad people have a great time with us in Tokyo. Happy travels and please contact us again for anything you need while in Japan.

Highly Recommended Day Tour of Tokyo

Robert_N, May 2023

Toured Tokyo with Roy Tanizaki using public transportation (which is part of the experience). Roy is great on Japan history and culture and he gave us the full day experience that we were looking for as we toured the Imperial Gardens, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku, Ginza, the old fish market and Asakusa and the Sensoji temple. Roy knew all the ins and outs of travel and adjusted our schedule to maximize what we were able to experience. Highly recommended if you want to set aside a day to hit the highlights of Tokyo.

Tokyo one day private tour

Linda_W, May 2023

Our guide was very good, working with us to assure he knew our sightseeing and food preferences. Felt like we maxed out the day pretty good, lots of walking, riding the trains to get to our destinations. Suggestions for improvements would be a little more explanation on the historical sites we visited, not that we were hx buffs but a little more detail in that area would have been good. Loved the ability to customize our itinerary for the day.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you Linda for the recommendation and 5 star review for our custom tour and leader. We love to receive these great comments and are always glad people have a great time with us in Tokyo. Happy travels and please contact us again for anything you need while in Japan. We take your feedback on board.

Tokyo with the fam

Alejandra_P, May 2023

We had a wonderful time! Our guide Kaori was super nice and patient, we loved everything! The people in Tokyo are soo friendly and nice, it is by far the nicest people I have met

Response from Host, May 2023

Thanks for this lovely 5 star review, we appreciate the 'Great Day!' feedback for our trip and Kaori. Please take care, happy travels and thanks again for the recommendation.

A great day in Tokyo

Natalie_S, May 2023

Miyuki is an awesome tour...

Maegen_M, May 2023

Miyuki is an awesome tour guide. She made us feel welcomed and gave us a ton of information that we will be able to use for the rest of our time in Japan. We spent the day laughing, eating delicious snacks and exploring the beautiful hidden gems in Tokyo. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, June 2023

I received a happy aura from you! The melon bread we ate in Asakusa was delicious! It was only half a day, so we couldn't go to many places, but I hope you were able to taste the charm of Japan.

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