Tokyo: @Fukagawa Edo Museum & @ Kiyosumi Garden — Guide Miyuki

Title: What's an Off-the-Beaten-Path Private Tour of Tokyo's Yanaka and Kiyosumi Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

This was a private tour for guests visiting Tokyo from North America. From the planning stage, the guests had requested many destinations (a stroll in Shibamata was also initially on the list), so I had imagined they could walk fairly well. When we met, however, I learned that one of the guests used a cane and could not walk very quickly. It was their first time in Japan, but since they had joined a tour of major Tokyo attractions such as Senso-ji the previous day, they wanted this day to be off the beaten path, learning about Japanese culture and history. As it was a hot day, I asked them to stay hydrated and to let me know immediately if they felt unwell before we set off.

Yanaka had few tourists and many highlights such as temples, Jizo statues, private homes, and old-fashioned shops, and the guests seemed to enjoy it very much. One of the guests liked an indigo-dyeing shop and spent quite a while picking up shawls with various dye patterns, unable to decide. Because it was so hot and walking took time, we ended up having a later lunch than planned. It was a first soba experience using a fork, but I was glad they enjoyed the atmosphere of the traditional shop. One of the guests was also very interested in Japan's education system and many other topics, so it was wonderful to be able to talk about so many things.

After cooling off a bit, we headed to Yanaka Ginza after lunch. One of the guests bought a beckoning-cat strap at a bamboo craft shop. Since one of the guests seemed a little tired after lunch, we took a break at a gelato shop that was said to be a favorite. As we were running behind schedule, I consulted with the guests and we decided to skip Nezu Shrine and head to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa. The Fukagawa Edo Museum was nicely air-conditioned, and one of the guests rested on a bench for a while. With the other guest, we walked through the row houses and looked at how the people of Fukagawa lived at the end of the Edo period. At one guest's request, we went to Kiyosumi Garden just before closing time. One of the guests rested on a bench after taking photos, while I walked once around the pond with the other guest. The guest loved the quiet, relaxed atmosphere of the garden and was deeply moved.

Thinking it would be difficult for the guests to travel from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station all the way back to their hotel in Shinagawa on their own, I saw them off at Kinshicho, put them on a train bound for Shinagawa on the platform, and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour, Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Miyuki

Hello, my name is Miyuki. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter since 2019. I was born in Saitama, 30 km north of Tokyo. I have lived there until today. I like Japanese traditional culture. I love bonsai and work as a guide in the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. I am also learning the tea ceremony. Both bonsai and tea ceremonies make you feel relaxed and refreshed. I used to be a member of a Japanese archery club when I was a university student. Visiting shrines, temples and traditional gardens also makes me happy. You cannot miss eating Japanese food and sweets after visiting there. Let’s enjoy walking around Japan together!

Hallo, mein Name ist Miyuki. Ich bin nationale anerkannte Reiseleiterin. Ich begleite Sie gerne durch Tokyo. Tokyo hat verschiedene Gesichter, mal traditionelle mal moderne. Da gibt es Shinto-Schreine, buddhistische Tempel, und typische japanische Gärten zu sehen, während man z. B. in Harajuku moderne Kultur und Mode erleben kann. Wollen wir zusammen bummeln und entdecken, was Tokyo ist!
Ich empfehle Ihnen auch einen Besuch zum Omiya Bonsai Dorf. Da kann man sich allerlei Bonsai Bäume ansehen.
Ich freue mich schon darauf, Sie zu sehen!