Tokyo in One Day: Tsukiji Station & Asakusa Station — Guide Masa

Can You Do a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, the Imperial Palace, Shinjuku Gyoen, and Shibuya

The guests were visitors from Oceania, both visiting Japan for the first time. They came to Japan on the recommendation of a family member who had visited before. They had arrived at Haneda Airport the previous evening and taken a taxi to their hotel. On this trip they were staying in Japan for a longer period, planning to spend some time in Tokyo before visiting Hida-Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and then returning home from Kansai Airport.

The tour took place under clear skies, with weather that was at times almost hot.

The guests said they would explore Asakusa on their own.

First, we headed to Tsukiji. Although it was a market holiday, more than half of the shops were open and there was quite a crowd. We walked around the outer market, browsing various shops, and sampled roasted soybeans, dried squid, and wasabi peanuts. The guests asked, "Why are there so many people here? Are these people who live in Tokyo, or are there many travelers from overseas?"

We then moved to the Imperial Palace. I explained about "the transition from the Edo period to the Meiji era," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "the current challenges facing the imperial family." The guests remarked, "The pine trees are beautiful," and asked, "Does the Emperor really live inside here?"

At the guests' request for lunch and Japanese food, we went to a sushi restaurant in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. The guests said, "It's fresh and delicious. It's completely different from the sushi we eat back home."

Next, we went to Shinjuku Gyoen, which the guests had really wanted to visit. The garden was extremely crowded. I explained the history of Shinjuku Gyoen. The guests commented, "The Japanese garden is wonderful and full of character." Seeing the chrysanthemums at the chrysanthemum exhibition, they remarked, "Back home, there is a custom of giving chrysanthemums on Mother's Day. But unlike the Japanese chrysanthemums, they are not nearly this beautiful."

We then moved to Shibuya, where the guests experienced the Scramble Crossing. They commented, "Why are there so many people here? Are they Japanese, or are they travelers?" and "I can't even understand why everyone comes here in the first place." They also said, "The Japanese all seem very polite," "Why aren't there any trash bins on the streets?" and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant. We were impressed."

The guests said the subway was confusing and asked me to take them to Asakusa, so I escorted them to Asakusa Station, where we parted ways.

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