Tokyo: Asakusa Station & Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station — Guide Masa

Title: What's a Private Garden-Focused Day Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Ueno, Rikugien, and Shinjuku Gyoen

The guests were visitors from North America, both visiting Japan for the first time. They had arrived the previous night on a direct flight to Narita Airport and taken a private car to a hotel in Asakusa. Their trip to Japan lasted about one week, after which they planned to travel on to Asia to visit relatives and celebrate the New Year together.

Since one of the guests loves flowers and gardens, we chose to visit parks and botanical gardens. It was a clear day, but the tour took place in a bitingly cold climate.

We first headed to Ueno, visiting the peony garden at Toshogu Shrine, where a "Winter Peony" exhibition was being held. One of the guests remarked, "We grow peonies in our own garden too, but here you can see so many varieties — it's wonderful."

We then moved to Rikugien. Although only limited flowers could be seen at this time of year, the guests commented, "The scenery of this Japanese garden is superb." They photographed the carp in the pond many times.

From there we moved to Koishikawa Korakuen. Again, only aged plum trees could be viewed, but the guests said, "The scenery within the garden is wonderful."

At the request to rest a little and have sushi for lunch, we went to a sushi restaurant in a department store building in Shinjuku. The guests noted, "Many sushi restaurants have opened in North America too, but they are expensive — about three times the price of eating in Japan — and the quality isn't as good."

After this, we moved to Shinjuku Gyoen. I explained the history of Shinjuku Gyoen, as well as topics such as the transition from the Edo period to the Meiji era, the Meiji Restoration, and the current challenges facing the Imperial Family. The guests took many photos in various spots and commented, "The Japanese garden has such charm — it's wonderful," and, "I would love to come again during the cherry blossom season."

The guests also shared various impressions: "The city is clean, with no litter scattered around." "The subway is very well made, though it's hard to understand until you get used to it." "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant." "This city used to be beautiful and easy to live in, but now the central area has poor public safety and can be dangerous."

I saw the guests off at Asakusa Station, and the tour ended.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Japanese Gardens Private Tour 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.