Kanagawa in Half a Day: Take some photos at the Hotel — Guide Hide

Title: Can You Book a Private Half-Day Yokohama Tour Before a Cruise Departure? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were an older group visiting from North America. All detailed arrangements regarding the itinerary were handled via a messaging app with a family member who remained in North America.

The guests had arrived at Narita Airport the previous evening and traveled to a hotel in Yokohama. They checked out in the morning to join this tour, and the tour was set up to help them pick up their luggage stored at the hotel and check in aboard the Celebrity Millennium, which was docked at the Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama Port.

Although it had not been in the original plan, a request came the previous evening from the family member asking for help buying and setting up a SIM card, so we decided to head to an electronics store first.

We confirmed the SIM card specifications with the family member and made the purchase. Since this took a little time, we gave up on taking the Sea Bass boat to Yamashita Park and instead took the Bayside Blue (a two-car articulated bus) to Yamashita Park.

With a light drizzle falling, we strolled through Yamashita Park and walked to the planned lunch spot. As the guests followed a plant-based diet, we headed to a cafe inside a hotel that had been chosen from three options, and had lunch there. While strolling through Yamashita Park, one of the guests suddenly requested to buy a kimono and Japanese toys as souvenirs, so after searching we headed to MARK IS. In the end they were able to purchase two large plastic bags full of souvenirs, so they were very pleased. (One of the guests sat on a bench and waited during the shopping, so I imagine it was not very entertaining for them.)

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

Tour Report by Hide

I registered as a national guide in February 2015 and began working as an interpreter guide in 2019. I have been guiding throughout Tokyo (I was born and raised in Setagaya and went to elementary and junior high school in Aoyama, Minato-ku. I am familiar with sightseeing spots and gourmet food in this area, including Shibuya), and I now live in Kanagawa (Yokohama where I have lived more than 30 years, and Kamakura, Odawara, Hakone)
I worked for the Japanese branch of an American advertising company for over 30 years and, thus, have deep knowledge of marketing and branding.
My hobbies are travel (domestic and international) and bicycling (I have participated in the Tour de Okinawa citizens’ race every year since 2017. I ride approx. 7,000 kilometers a year). When traveling in Japan, I enjoy traditional crafts, local products, food, and sake from each region. I am also active in a band as a third hobby, performing live once a year for ten years.
As a guide, I mainly guide small groups (about 4-5 people), where I can communicate more closely and politely with them, rather than large groups.
My activity aims to deepen the understanding of Japanese traditional culture and the Japanese people among foreign visitors and to make a small contribution to making Japan the number one country to revisit in their hearts.