Tokyo: Tobu Asakusa Station & Shinkyo Bridge — Guide Masa

Title: What Is a Private Day Tour from Tokyo to Nikko Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America, traveling with [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/). They had arrived in Japan a couple of days earlier, and the day before the tour they had explored the Asakusa area, Tokyo Skytree, and Ginza.

They were on a trip to Japan lasting about a week and a half. From the next day they planned to travel to Hakone, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, and Osaka, returning home from Kansai Airport via Haneda.

One of the guests' relatives had long worked in the automotive industry, and it was on that relative's strong recommendation — "If you go to Japan, you must visit Nikko" — that the group decided to include Nikko in their itinerary.

Two of the guests had nut allergies.

It was a cloudy day, but we were not caught in any rain.

We traveled to Nikko on the "Spacia" train and returned on the ordinary "Liberty Kegon."

During the ride, I explained the history of Edo and Tokyo, Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Tokugawa shogunate, the history of Nikko Toshogu, the period of national isolation, the Meiji Restoration, and the system of alternate attendance (sankin-kotai).

After arriving at Tobu-Nikko Station, we took a bus to the West Approach entrance.

From there, we leisurely visited Toshogu and Rinnoji. Along the way, there were many groups of elementary and junior high school students on their visits.

The guests asked many questions, such as "What is the purpose of a torii gate?", "What kind of religion is Shinto? How does it differ from Buddhism?", and "Why is there a five-story pagoda at Toshogu as well?"

There were also questions such as "What is goma, the fire ritual?"

As for the "Three Wise Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat," they had read about them beforehand and were well acquainted with the stories.

Since the guests mentioned they had not had breakfast that morning, we stopped for lunch at a teahouse near the West Approach bus stop. They enjoyed "katsu curry," "sansai soba," and other dishes.

Afterward, we visited Futarasan Shrine and Taiyuin, and then walked to Kanmangafuchi Abyss.

"The flow of the river is beautiful," and "I love walking along paths like this," they said, taking photos here and there while strolling slowly.

We then walked to the Shinkyo Bridge.

At the Shinkyo Bridge as well, the guests eagerly took photographs from various angles (photography being a favorite hobby of one of the guests).

From the Shinkyo Bridge we took a bus to Tobu-Nikko Station.

On the return journey, perhaps out of fatigue, everyone slept soundly.

They shared comments such as "I was amazed by the crowds in Asakusa," "Everywhere in the city is clean and tidy, with no litter," "There are no homeless people," "The public toilets are clean and pleasant to use," and "I was surprised by how many people appeared to be office workers in suits and ties."

After arriving at Tobu-Asakusa Station, we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour, Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Masa

Guiding career:
Guide work started in July 2022. A guide focused on FIT compliance.
FY2022 results: 17 cases, FY2023 results: 97
Destinations: Various places in Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko
As a recent group travel record, in October 2023, we have a track record of guiding a group of 33 people from Singapore to Narita Airport transfer plus sightseeing in Tokyo.
Self-introduction:
In the past, I was stationed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico as an expatriate of a Japanese bank for over 11 years.
Since I have been mainly involved in the financing business in the United States for a long time, I think I am able to provide interpretation and translation services related to business and finance.
I am a certified CPA in the United States.
In addition, for three years from April 2016, I will be engaged in Japanese-English translation work (part-time), and I can also handle translation work.
Although I don’t have a qualification in Spanish, but I think I can handle day to day conversation in Spanish without any problems.
My hobby is trekking and from time to time, take a walk around mountains near Tokyo like Mt. Takao, Tanzawa, etc. I think it is possible to provide tourist information here as well.
Since April 2015, I have been working as a Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism Volunteer and Tokyo Metropolitan Disaster Prevention Volunteer.
One more, I have a separate house near Asuka Village, Nara prefecture, and I stay there for a total of about 30 days every year and have been enjoying sightseeing personally in the vicinity. Therefore, I think in the Kansai region, especially in Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo, etc., where I think I will be able to tour guide with confidence.