Tokyo: lodging & In front of Kaminarimon — Guide Masa

What's a Private Tokyo Family Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on teamLab Planets and Asakusa

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time, traveling together from North America. They had originally relocated from South America. This was part of a longer holiday trip lasting about three weeks. Before coming to Japan, they had already traveled through Asia, arriving at Haneda Airport by air.

They had arrived at Haneda Airport a couple of days earlier and taken a taxi to their accommodation. The previous day, the whole group had strolled around the Shibuya area together. They planned to stay in Japan for about ten days, visiting Tokyo as well as Hakone, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Osaka, before returning to Tokyo and flying home. Today, their wish was to see the main highlights with the younger members of the group in mind.

It was a tour under cloudy skies, with weather that was almost hot.

After departing from the accommodation by minibus, we first went, at their request, to teamLab Planets. Entry had already been reserved for 8:30 am. I waited at the entrance. It took quite a while, and although I made several inquiries via a messaging app, the group did not come out of the exit until after 11:00 am. They said the younger ones did not want to leave and that they had bought and eaten some snacks inside.

Once everyone was finally back on board, we headed to Asakusa. Starting from in front of Kaminarimon Gate, I explained the history of Sensoji Temple and the shift from Edo to Tokyo, the purpose of the five-story pagoda, an overview of Buddhism, and the differences between Buddhism and Shinto. We took commemorative photos at Kaminarimon and various spots, and strolled slowly along the crowded Nakamise shopping street.

The group often stopped in front of the shops along the street, so progress was slow, and they were also fascinated by drawing omikuji fortunes. There were questions such as what the main religions in Japan are, how many Buddhists there are in Japan, and what other religions people follow.

We boarded the minibus in front of Nitenmon Gate and headed to lunch. They said they had enjoyed a relaxed meal and that the shabu-shabu was delicious.

Since there was no nearby parking for the minibus, we walked to the bus stop in front of Nitenmon Gate. One of the group had fallen asleep, so we moved along using a stroller. Upon reaching the bus stop, the group discussed the rest of the itinerary — whether to visit the Kappabashi kitchenware street or to return to the accommodation as they were tired. In the end, they decided to stroll along the Nakamise shopping street again, and everyone walked back toward it on foot.

Along the way, one of the group had a minor burn from the hot shabu-shabu broth, so we stopped at a drugstore to buy some medicine. We then strolled slowly back through the shopping street in the opposite direction, stopping at various shops. When we finally reached Kaminarimon, they said they wanted to stay longer there and continue enjoying shopping along the Nakamise shopping street, and that they would make their own way back to the accommodation, so the bus would no longer be needed from that point. We parted ways there.

I then returned to the driver waiting at the bus stop in front of Nitenmon Gate, conveyed the above, and concluded my guiding duties.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car 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.