Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Noripy

What's a Private Historical Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Asakusa, and Yanaka

The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They planned to spend time in Tokyo and Kyoto, using Kyoto as a base to also visit Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima over the course of their trip. They had researched Japan thoroughly online and had already made reservations at popular spots, including Tsukiji Market, teamLab, and a hard-to-book pizza restaurant inside a luxury hotel.

Since they wished to focus on historical places during this tour, I guided them to Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa. The guests had arrived only two days earlier on a long direct flight of about 14 hours, but they showed no sign of being bothered by walking during the sightseeing on foot. As we had more time than expected, we added Nezu Shrine and continued from Sendagi to Yanaka. They observed the townscape with great interest during our stroll and seemed to enjoy it.

The guests mentioned that one of their travel pleasures is trying the sports drinks of each country they visit and comparing them to the equivalent of Gatorade. So when I introduced Pocari Sweat, a representative Japanese sports drink, at a convenience store, they bought one right away and tried it, saying it was delicious.

Along the Yanaka Ginza shopping street, one of the guests observed that there seemed to be many tourists from Europe but hardly any from North America. I had often had a similar impression myself, so I shared that feeling with them.

On the way to the Hotel, I pointed out sights from the car window, including Nihonbashi, the Mitsui Main Building, the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, the Bank of Japan, the Kabukiza Theatre, and Tsukiji Hongwanji. The conversation in the car was lively. For example, we spotted Mario Kart-style go-karts driving through the streets. One of the guests admitted with a laugh that they had actually felt a slight urge to ride one but decided against it because it would look too much like a tourist. We also got onto the topic of how many 7-Eleven stores there are in Tokyo, and one of the guests asked an AI assistant on their smartphone by voice. The answer of about 2,900 stores surprised everyone in the car. That sparked even more curiosity about how many there might be nationwide, so they asked the AI again. The answer that there were well over 21,000 stores across the country brought more exclamations of surprise and made the car very lively.

Beyond topics of history and culture, our conversation branched out from small discoveries on street corners and casual questions, making for a very enjoyable time.

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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!