Tokyo Private Subway Tour: Meiji Shrine & Sensoji Highlights

Six hours across Tokyo's shrines, markets and crossings with a licensed guide

A private 6-hour Tokyo tour with a government-licensed English-speaking guide covers Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, Ginza, Tsukiji Outer Market and Sensoji Temple, using the subway and JR train. Hotel pickup and all public transportation fares are included. The tour involves a significant amount of walking, and lunch at Tsukiji is optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Meiji Shrine50m
2. Shibuya Crossing30m
3. Ginza30m

Explore Tokyo's key sights by subway

• Pickup from hotel
• Visit Meiji Shrine
• Take JR Yamanote Line to Shibuya
• See Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Hachi statue
• Walk around Ginza shopping district
• Explore Tsukiji Outer Market and optional lunch
• Visit Asakusa: riverside, Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple

The experience

Meiji Shrine opens the day: a walk through a man-made forest to Tokyo's largest Shinto shrine, completed in 1920 and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The guide handles the route from your hotel by train or subway, and the main square sits in a serene, sacred atmosphere that feels removed from the city outside. From there, a short JR Yamanote Line ride takes you to Shibuya Station, where the Shibuya Scramble Crossing spreads across the street, the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, and the statue of Hachi, the loyal Akita dog, stands nearby.

Ginza comes next, Japan's first western-style shopping district, where you stroll the main street at a leisurely pace. By noon you'll reach Tsukiji Outer Market, the lively open-air hub for seafood and street food. The guide can point you toward a local restaurant if you want lunch, though it's optional and not included. The final stop is Asakusa, Tokyo's historic downtown, where you'll see Tokyo Skytree and the golden Asahi Brewery building from the riverside, then walk through Nakamise Shopping Street to Sensoji, Tokyo's largest Buddhist Temple. The licensed guide provides accurate information about Japan's history and culture throughout, and the itinerary avoids rush-hour crowding on the trains.

What’s included

• Government-licensed English-speaking guide.
• all Tokyo Metro and JR train fares.
• hotel pickup by train or subway connection.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tokyo-based Licensed English-speaking guide

Is this one for you?A private tour suits travelers new to Tokyo with limited time and budget who want a licensed guide to navigate the trains and explain the history and culture at each stop. The 6-hour span fits the major sites into one morning and afternoon without the pace of a larger group.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 11 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Meiji Shrine and why does the tour start there?

Meiji Shrine is Tokyo's largest Shinto shrine, completed in 1920 to honor Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It sits in the heart of a vast man-made forest and offers a serene, sacred atmosphere with traditional Shinto-style architecture: a major religious and cultural site that sets the tone for understanding Tokyo's spiritual side.

Is the Shibuya Scramble Crossing really the world's busiest pedestrian crossing?

Yes, Shibuya Scramble Crossing is renowned globally as the busiest pedestrian crossing. The tour includes time to witness it and see the statue of Hachi, the famous Akita dog, which stands nearby as a Tokyo landmark.

What happens at Tsukiji Outer Market, and do I have to eat there?

Tsukiji Outer Market is a lively open-air market known for seafood and street food. You'll arrive around noon and can explore it. The guide can recommend local restaurants if you want lunch, but eating is optional and not included in the tour price.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes a significant amount of walking across five major stops, from the forest paths at Meiji Shrine through Shibuya, Ginza and Tsukiji, to the shopping streets and temple grounds of Asakusa. Comfortable sneakers are recommended, and an umbrella or raincoat is advisable in case of rain.

Does the tour price cover the subway and train fares?

Yes, all public transportation fares for the Tokyo Metro and JR trains are included, along with hotel pickup and the licensed English-speaking guide. You only pay extra if you choose to buy lunch at Tsukiji Market.