Tokyo in Half a Day: Break at Torindo (matcha set) — Guide Danda

What Is a Private Walking Tour of Asakusa, Ueno, and Yanaka in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

It took some time to reach the guests at first, but once we made contact through a messaging app, things went smoothly, and the meeting point was changed from the hotel to under the giant straw sandal at Senso-ji Temple. They were very experienced travelers who visit different parts of the world almost every year. After walking all around Senso-ji, we went to Ueno Park, Yanaka, and Nezu Shrine. The guests were both very sturdy on their feet and enjoyed activities such as running and dog agility competitions, so walking was no problem at all. In Yanaka, we walked from Ueno Sakuragi through Yanaka Cemetery, along the Hebi-michi (Snake Road), and on to Nezu Shrine. Since the guests loved to talk, we were chatting about something the whole time, so the time passed quickly. On the other hand, because of that, there were a few spots I forgot to introduce. We also talked about topics completely unrelated to the area, ranging widely — a family member's occupation, the disappearance of carp back home, pachinko, tattoos, elderly care facilities and money laundering, Sicily, and more. It was enjoyable, though at times I found it hard to tell whether some of the jokes were serious, and the frequent use of metaphors sometimes made things difficult to follow. Among the several suggestions I offered, the guests seemed to have decided the course, but they kept asking "Where are we going again?" and "What is this place famous for?", so it was a tour where I wasn't entirely sure why these places had been chosen. From a conversation while we were taking a break at a sweets shop, I got the impression that a garden such as Rikugien might have been a better choice than Yanaka, but since we had already ventured into Yanaka, moving elsewhere wasn't easy, so we continued on to Yanaka and Nezu. As usual, I left the photography to the guests (since I'm not good at it), and I received some of the well-taken photos. Today felt less like guiding and more like a day spent mostly in casual conversation despite all the walking, but even so, the guests seemed to have had an enjoyable time, so I think that was a good outcome. Also, I was asked what items can only be bought in Tokyo (I wonder if there are any) and about the number of vending machines, so I plan to send my answers on these questions later.

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Tour Report by Danda

Nice to meet you. I am delighted to introduce myself. My nickname is Danda. I live in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo, but I was brought up in Kanazawa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. My favorite things are bonsai and hiking. Also, I have been a big fun of history and sumo since my childhood. As for the guide, I have enjoyed making communication with foreign visitors since 2019. I have taken more than 30 private groups to not only major scenic spots but also their favorite places such as tea ceremony, maid cafe, sumo tournament, bonsai village, fire ritual and so on. I can arrange the original tour based on your requests and curiosity. It will be only for you. I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you.