Tokyo in Half a Day: Tochomae Station & Ryogoku Station — Guide Masa

What Is a Private Full-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya

The guests were visitors from Europe, visiting Japan for the first time on a celebratory trip. A week earlier, they had arrived at Kansai Airport, visited Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, and reached Tokyo the previous evening. The following day they planned a day trip to Mount Fuji, and from the day after that they would embark on a cruise around Japan departing from Yokohama Port, with a stop in another Asian destination as well, before flying home after returning to port. This afternoon they were scheduled to watch sumo at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. They also mentioned that the previous night they had explored Kabukicho in Shinjuku.

The tour took place in extremely hot and humid weather.

First, as requested, we headed to Tsukiji. I explained the history of Tokyo's fish market dating back to the Edo period, as well as the difference between the Toyosu Market and the Tsukiji Outer Market. There were questions and comments such as "Do all Tokyo residents come here to buy fish?" and "It's crowded, but it seems like there are a lot of tourists."

After this, we moved to Asakusa, which as usual was crowded with many tourists.

We then moved to Harajuku and visited Meiji Shrine. I explained about Shinto, the difference between Shinto and Buddhism, torii gates, Emperor Meiji, why sake barrels are displayed, and why wine barrels are displayed. There were also questions such as "What kind of teaching is Buddhism?" and "How does Buddhism differ from Shinto?"

We moved to Shibuya. First, we took photos looking down at Shibuya Scramble Square from the entrance to the Keio Inokashira Line platform, and then actually crossed the scramble intersection. There were questions such as "Why do so many people gather here?" and "Why did it become so famous?" We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue.

Since a reservation for "Shibuya Sky" at 12:00 had already been made, I escorted the guests to the venue and then waited at the entrance.

After reuniting, I received a request for help: "We have a sumo viewing reservation, but we still haven't received the confirmation, so we don't know what time or where to go. Please help us."

From there, I repeatedly tried to contact the guests' agent abroad, who had arranged the sumo viewing reservation, but could not reach them. The guests had a contact phone number in Japan, so I hurriedly called it. After several attempts, I finally got through and was able to confirm the meeting place and meeting time.

After this, I received a request: "There isn't much time until the meeting time, and we're not familiar with the transportation, so please accompany us and take us there." Although it went over the scheduled time, I reluctantly agreed.

There were also comments such as "Japanese people are all quiet and polite" and "The city is clean and there is no litter on the ground."

I escorted the guests to the meeting place at JR Ryogoku Station, and we finally parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local 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.