Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Noripy

What Is a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. The following day they planned to sightsee around Mount Fuji, then travel to Kyoto and Osaka before returning home. This meant that this Tokyo tour was their only full day of sightseeing in Tokyo, and they had booked an 8-hour tour. In advance, the guests had requested to avoid the extreme heat as much as possible, so I adjusted my suggestions to the conditions and proposed more indoor activities than usual while checking their preferences.

Starting from a hotel in the Kabukicho area, we first headed to Meiji Shrine. Since this tour did not include a Buddhist temple, I explained the different ways of praying at a shrine versus a temple and had them experience it, so they could use it as a reference for their visit to Kyoto. Next, while moving to Takeshita Street in Harajuku, I casually mentioned a cat cafe, and one of the guests really wanted to go, so after persuading another guest who claimed to be a dog person, we made an unscheduled stop of about 30 minutes at the cat cafe MOCHA near Harajuku Station. The guests were delighted and interacted with many different cats. Another guest sat down slowly and watched, saying, "Well, if they're happy, then I'm happy too." Furthermore, an animal-loving guest found a dog cafe and a capybara cafe on Takeshita Street and became quite excited. Later, during lunch in Shibuya, the guests showed me photos of the cats and dogs they keep at home. At a Kagoshima cuisine restaurant, some of the guests enjoyed a Kagoshima yakitori set, while the pescatarian guests enjoyed vegetable and shrimp tempura rice bowls and zaru udon, eating with chopsticks. In addition to the classic Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Hachiko statue, after lunch I guided them to Shibuya 109, which is popular among teenage girls in Japan, but they did not seem very interested. Since the Imperial Palace grounds have no shade, and to avoid the still-strong sunlight, when we stopped by Ginza I recommended the Art Aquarium inside Ginza Mitsukoshi, which one of the guests strongly wished to see, so we all viewed it together. Even as a Japanese person, I found it spectacular. Some of the guests took commemorative photos while viewing it, while another guest took plenty of time to appreciate it alone, and when finished said, "It's really the best, I loved it!" — clearly captivated by the exhibition. They wanted to buy a souvenir at the shop, but unfortunately the item they wanted (a wooden puzzle) was sold out. After that, we passed along Ginza Chuo-dori and visited the Imperial Palace. I had hoped the heat would ease a little by this time of day, but it was still very hot. So we traveled to Tokyo Station via the underground passage. At that point the guests were tired, so we decided to return to the hotel. However, before returning to the hotel, they were worried about the departure point of the next day's bus, so we got off at Shinjuku Station, and after showing them "Basta" bus terminal, we walked back to the hotel. It was about a 13-minute walk, but the guests felt anxious about accessing it on foot on their own even using Google Maps, so at the hotel front desk I helped arrange a taxi reservation and a courier delivery for the following day before saying goodbye.

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Tour Report by Noripy

Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!