Tokyo in One Day: @ Asakusa & @ Akihabara — Guide Miyuki

What Is a 2-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Day 2 (Shinjuku, Asakusa, Yanaka, Akihabara)

This is Day 2 of a two-day consecutive private tour for a guest visiting from North America. We first walked from the Hotel to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. We arrived at 9:20, but there was already a group of about 20 people and one set of individual guests waiting in line. After waiting about 10 minutes for the observation deck to open, we went up to the South Observatory. It was a clear day, and luckily we could see Mount Fuji. I told the guest, "It is rare to see Mount Fuji at this time of year. Seeing Mount Fuji brings good fortune," and the guest was very pleased. The guest also mentioned wanting to visit teamLab Borderless the following day, but when we checked the reservation site, the tickets were already sold out. So I recommended teamLab Planets instead, and it was suddenly decided to go there after this day's tour, so I helped with the ticket reservation. After enjoying the view from the observatory and listening a little to the sound of the memorial piano, we headed to Shinjuku Station. At our next destination, Asakusa, I guided the guest to Azumabashi Bridge, Kaminarimon Gate, Nakamise, and Chingodo. The guest really liked the atmosphere of Nakamise, lined with small shops. After eating freshly baked ningyo-yaki at Kimuraya Honten, we went to the main hall. The guest had never tried okonomiyaki, so we had planned to have lunch at Tsurujiro HANARE, but it was fully booked that day and we could not get in, so we moved to the main branch. Fortunately, at the main branch we were shown to the second floor right away. We had to take off our shoes, but the guest seemed thoroughly relaxed by the Japanese-style interior and the comfortable sunken kotatsu-style seating, which was a relief. For the food, we ordered a mixed okonomiyaki and a mentaiko mochi cheese monjayaki to share. It was good that I was able to cook the monjayaki on the iron griddle at the table to show the guest. It seemed to suit the guest's taste as well. After lunch, we went to Yanaka. From Nippori Station, we walked to Tennoji, the Jizo statue, Yanaka Cemetery, the Uenosakuragi area, SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, the former Yoshidaya liquor store, the mud wall with roof tiles, and Yanaka Ginza. What particularly interested the guest was the graves. I talked about sotoba and the circumstances surrounding graves in Japan. Finally, we went to Akihabara. That day, the guest had arranged to meet a friend in Akihabara at 3:00 after the tour ended. Since the guest was not interested in anime or manga and did not need guidance there, we passed through the Akihabara Radio Center and I guided the guest to the meeting spot at GiGO Akihabara Building 1, where the tour concluded.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with 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!