Tokyo: Shinjuku Station & Shinkyo Bus Stop — Guide Masa

Title: What's a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Nikko Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were friends visiting Japan from North America, both on their first trip to Japan. This was a 9-day trip to Japan. They decided to visit Japan on the recommendation of a friend who had traveled here two years earlier. They had arrived at Narita Airport three days before, taking the Narita Express to Shinjuku. By the previous day, they had visited the main spots in Tokyo. From the following day, they planned to travel to Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka, then return to Tokyo before going home.

They chose the Nikko tour because they wanted to see the Japanese countryside and mountain scenery rather than the city. Both guests also shared a love of photography and said they wanted to photograph a variety of landscapes. The tour took place under clear skies, in weather that was almost cold.

Since it was the busy season for Nikko sightseeing, we could not get the reserved seats we had hoped for, so we moved the departure about one hour earlier.

From Kita-Senju Station, we took the Tobu Railway Spacia to Nikko. On board, I explained topics such as the origins and history of Nikko, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Five Highways and the sankin-kotai system, and the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration. I also explained the origins of the Nikko Kanaya Hotel.

From Tobu Nikko Station, we first went to Lake Chuzenji, which the guests had strongly requested. Despite the greater-than-expected cold, there were quite a few tourists. We then walked to Kegon Falls. Most of the autumn leaves had already fallen, but the guests enthusiastically photographed the surrounding mountains. They remarked that the cold was hard to bear, unlike back home. I also explained why Nikko became a summer retreat.

We then moved to central Nikko by bus. First, we visited Nikko Futarasan Shrine. The guests said the avenue of cedar trees was wonderful, noting that where they live it is dry, with no green scenery, and that water shortages are always an issue.

From there we walked to Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Despite it being a weekday, it was very crowded with tour groups from overseas and groups of Japanese schoolchildren and students. We toured the Yomeimon Gate, the main hall, the gate with the cats and sparrows, and the crying dragon in turn. The guests seemed especially fond of the "Three Wise Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat," and took their time photographing them. At Rinnoji Temple, they admired the Japanese garden in front of the main hall and photographed it at leisure. We then walked to the Shinkyo Bridge, where they stood on the bridge and took photos here and there at a relaxed pace.

Afterward, we had lunch at a local restaurant, where both guests ordered Japanese soba. Then we took the bus back to Tobu Nikko Station. They commented that Toshogu was completely different from the shrines they had seen in Tokyo, being far more lavish and ornate, and that they found it very interesting.

On the return journey, the guests mostly napped. They shared comments such as "Japanese people are friendly and polite everywhere you go," "The towns are clean and there is no litter," and "The public transportation network is very well developed."

They mentioned they planned to go to Omoide Yokocho for dinner. I saw them off from Kita-Senju Station to Shinjuku Station, where we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour, 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.