Tokyo in One Day: Shinsen Station & Shibuya Station — Guide Masa

Title: What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, and Harajuku

The guests were visitors from North America, all visiting Japan for the first time. Twenty years ago, the guests had relocated from South America, and at home they speak Spanish together.

Two weeks earlier they arrived at Narita Airport and headed straight to the Kansai region. They traveled around Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, then came to Tokyo the day before yesterday. They plan to return home later this month.

They said, "Visiting the Atomic Bomb Museum was a huge shock. In North America, this is not taught in schools at all."

They were staying in Tokyo for four days. Yesterday they went to the Ghibli Museum, and they mentioned they had a very hard time obtaining tickets.

One of the guests was unable to join the tour due to feeling unwell from something they had eaten, so it became a tour with two participants. They said lunch would not be needed.

The tour took place under cloudy skies with a humid feel in the air.

First, we went to Asakusa.

Despite the early morning hour, it was very crowded. I explained "Senso-ji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what a five-story pagoda is," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto."

We took a commemorative photo in front of Kaminarimon.

There were questions such as "How many people in Japan believe in Buddhism?", "What other religions do people follow?", and "How often do people who believe in Buddhism go to temples?"

They drew omikuji fortunes, and both drew "bad luck," which left them disappointed.

We strolled slowly through the Nakamise shopping street.

Next, we moved to the Imperial Palace.

We walked through the Imperial Palace East Gardens. The cherry blossoms had mostly fallen, and they said, "It's a shame we can't see the cherry blossoms."

I explained "the history from the Edo period to the Meiji period," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "an overview of the current Imperial family."

There were questions and comments such as "The pine trees are beautiful. They look like bonsai," "Does the Japanese Emperor hold political power?", and "When can we meet the Emperor?"

We went to Tokyo Tower. We climbed up to the Main Deck and walked around it.

They asked, "Can't we see Mount Fuji?" and commented, "Now I really understand how vast and spread out Tokyo is."

We moved to Harajuku.

First, we went to Meiji Shrine.

I explained "Shinto and Buddhism," "about torii gates," "about Emperor Meiji," "the history of Edo and Tokyo," "the Meiji Restoration," and "why wine barrels are displayed here."

There were also questions such as "When did Shinto originate?" and "Why aren't the torii gates painted red?"

After this, we strolled along Takeshita Street and Cat Street.

There were comments and questions such as "The streets are clean, with no litter," "I don't see any homeless people," and "Why are there no trash cans in the streets?"

They also commented, "No one is chatting on the trains."

We returned to Shibuya Station and 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.