Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

August, 2024

This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Tour Itinerary

  • 1. 09:00 Meet up@Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel2. 09:10 Transit: train, subway
  • 3. 09:30 Stay@Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
  • 4. 10:00 Stay@Tsukiji Outer Market
  • 5. 10:30 Breakfast@Tsukiji Hongwanji Cafe Tsugumi
  • 6. 11:20 Transit: subway
  • 7. 11:55 Stay@Asakusa
  • 8. 12:15 Transit: subway, train
  • 9. 13:05 Disband@Hotel

What Is a Private Tokyo Tour of Tsukiji and Asakusa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were an elderly group, and since some of them could only walk at a slower pace, I made a point of finding elevators and escalators whenever possible while moving through the stations.

The highlight of this tour was breakfast at the cafe in Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple. Fearing a possible cancellation of the tour, I visited without a reservation, but this turned out to be not the best decision. I used the waiting time to guide them around the temple and the outer market, but it seems our turn had already come during that time. This cafe seems to get especially crowded in the morning, so next time I would like to make a reservation with a specified time before visiting.

Upon arriving in Asakusa, some of the guests appeared tired, and since I had heard that the group planned to travel to a cruise terminal in Yokohama after this tour, in Asakusa we limited ourselves to taking photos in front of Kaminarimon Gate, and then I saw them off at the Hotel before parting ways.

On the way back, we used the Toei subway from Asakusa to save time.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainShiomi Station～Hatchobori Station170JPY
Section 2SubwayHatchobori Station～Tsukiji Station180JPY
Section 3SubwayTsukiji Station～Asakusa Station210JPY
Section 4SubwayAsakusa Station～Hatchobori Station290JPY
Section 5TrainHatchobori Station～Shiomi Station170JPY
Total1,020JPY

Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.

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