Choosing a Tour
You've decided on a private tour. Here's what we offer—with enough detail to know which one fits your situation.
December 7, 2025
4 mins read
You've decided on a private tour. Here's what we offer—with enough detail to know which one fits your situation.
Four tour formats. Different purposes. Pick the one that matches yours.
Tour | Duration | Price (2 people) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Tokyo Trifecta | 4 hours | $314 | Limited time, jet lag recovery, testing the format |
Tokyo Essentials | 6 hours | $430 | First-timers wanting comprehensive landmarks |
Tokyo Together | 6 hours | $430 | Multi-generational families, groups with mixed energy |
Infinite Tokyo | 8 hours | $550 | Repeat visitors, specific interests, full customization |
For families where teenagers are the "wild card," the touring with teenagers guide explains how Infinite Tokyo's pre-tour consultation designs around specific teen interests.
Not sure which fits? Our guide to choosing a Tokyo private tour breaks down the decision.
Three distinct sides of Tokyo in one afternoon: spiritual calm, youth culture, neon nightlife.
The route moves from Meiji Jingu Shrine through Harajuku to Shinjuku. You start in the forest—100-year-old cedar trees lining gravel paths to one of Tokyo's most important shrines. Then Takeshita Street, where Tokyo's youth set trends in colorful boutiques and vintage shops. The tour ends as Shinjuku transforms for the evening: lanterns lighting up Omoide Yokocho's narrow lanes, salarymen filling the tiny grilled-skewer stalls, and Golden Gai's labyrinth of bars each holding a dozen people at most.
What makes it work: The late-afternoon timing (starting around 2-3 PM) catches Shinjuku's evening transformation. You see Tokyo shift from daytime to nightlife mode.
Physical note: Moderate walking. The sites are geographically clustered and connected by short train rides or walks. Harajuku's pedestrian streets and Shinjuku's alleyways are best experienced on foot.
A sensory introduction to Tokyo's iconic landmarks—not just seeing them, but tasting, smelling, hearing, and touching the city.
The day starts at Tsukiji Outer Market with sushi crafted from fish landed hours earlier. Then to Asakusa, where Nakamise Street leads to Sensoji Temple—incense smoke, fortune papers, the sound of prayers at altars. Through Ameyoko's narrow market maze with vendors calling out prices. The tour ends in Akihabara's neon atmosphere: retro arcades, anime specialty stores, multi-story electronics buildings.
What makes it work: The itinerary is designed as a sensory progression. Morning markets (taste), temple rituals (touch, smell), street market chaos (sound), neon overload (sight). Each neighborhood adds a new dimension.
Physical note: Significant walking. You'll move through Tsukiji's narrow aisles, navigate Ameyoko's crowded alleys, and walk Nakamise's shop-lined approach to the temple.
A full day built around your interests. You choose the direction; your guide designs the route.
After booking, you'll have a pre-tour consultation. You share your interests, your energy level, what you hope to experience. Your guide then curates an 8-hour itinerary—typically 5-6 locations—that balances what excites you. Spiritual calm at shrines? Food adventures? Modern design museums? Quirky animal cafés? Traditional gardens? All possible.
What makes it work: The customization is real. Sample routes include Yanaka Ginza's old Tokyo atmosphere, Tsukiji's market energy, Hie Jinja Shrine's hillside quiet, 21_21 Design Sight's minimalist architecture, and Rikugien Garden's seasonal landscapes. But those are just examples—your actual route is built around what you tell us.
Physical note: Varies by itinerary. If your customized route covers widely spread locations or you have mobility needs, car service is available (¥77,000). For most itineraries, public transport delivers more of Tokyo. For most interest-based routes, public transportation and walking work well and allow for spontaneous detours.
Infinite Tokyo is also the format we recommend for milestone birthdays—when the day should revolve entirely around one person. See our birthday tour guide for how this works as a gift.
Beyond the four core formats, we run specialty tours for particular interests.
Tour | Duration | Price | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
6 hours | $430 | Food tour through Shibuya, Ebisu, Nakameguro — standing sushi, yakitori, sake bars | |
4 hours | $314 | Suginami Ward after dark — Nakano, Nishi-Ogikubo, Kichijoji standing bars | |
8 hours | $550 | 1,200 years of history — shrines, imperial gardens, pre-war neighborhoods | |
8 hours | $550 | Local daily life — Kichijoji, Shimokitazawa, neighborhood shopping streets | |
flexible | $314-550 | Daikoku PA meets, tuning shops, Wangan expressway culture |
All tours are priced per group, not per person. The larger your group, the lower the per-person cost.
Most tour companies charge per person or by the hour—which makes comparing total costs difficult. We price per group so you know exactly what you're paying before you book.
Group Size | 4-Hour Tours | 6-Hour Tours | 8-Hour Tours |
|---|---|---|---|
1 person | $300 | $400 | $500 |
2 people | $314 | $430 | $550 |
3 people | $345 | $489 | $621 |
4 people | $376 | $552 | $708 |
5 people | $410 | $625 | $790 |
6 people | $438 | $678 | $870 |
7 people | $469 | $742 | $938 |
8 people | $488 | $800 | $1,016 |
What's included:
Your guide (fluent English, native Japanese)
Hotel meet-and-greet—your guide comes to you
Public transportation coordination throughout the tour
On-call concierge support
Small local gift
What's not included:
Food and drinks (you control your own budget)
Public transportation costs during the tour
Entrance fees to museums or attractions
Personal shopping
Gratuities
Car service option:
Private car service is available for an additional fee, paid directly to our local partner:
4-hour tours: ¥50,000 (~$330)
6-hour tours: ¥60,000 (~$400)
8-hour tours: ¥77,000 (~$520)
Vehicle is a Toyota Alphard or equivalent. Recommended for travelers with mobility needs or when covering widely spread locations. For most tours, public transportation and walking let you experience the neighborhoods at street level.
Eight tours, each designed for a different situation. Pick based on your time, your group, and what you want from the day—then book knowing exactly what you'll pay. No hidden fees. No "contact us for a quote."
At Hinomaru One, we design culturally rich, stress-free private Tokyo tours for first-time and seasoned travelers. Unrushed. Insightful. Always customized.
