What Is a Private One-Day Hakone Tour from Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had already traveled through Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto, and had chosen Hakone as their final destination. Unfortunately it was a rainy day, but since they were staying for several nights, we decided to tour the main sites today to help them get a feel for the area, and to try again tomorrow for the long-awaited view of Mount Fuji. First, we headed to Owakudani by ropeway, where I pointed out the key spots to prepare for tomorrow. At Hakone Shrine that followed, I explained the differences between Buddhism and Shinto, which they seemed to understand anew, earnestly repeating their prayers and taking photographs. After lunch we went to Gora Park, which the guests seemed to enjoy very much, saying they would like to visit again tomorrow. Finally, they were very eager to see Mount Fuji, so we headed to a viewpoint over Otome Pass, but regrettably we were unable to fulfill that wish in the end.

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Tour Report by Atsushi

Hello and welcome to Tokyo!

I have been working for business with American companies for many years. I have many experiences guiding customers from around the world in Japan and taking Japanese customers to the USA and Europe.

I now have a national license as a guiding interpreter, and I want to introduce the unique gigantic city of Tokyo and the traditional Japanese culture, which is not shown in the guidebooks, to people worldwide who are interested in it. In addition, I want to introduce various Japanese foods you can enjoy only in Japan.
Unique experiences such as the Sumo Training Viewing and Tea Ceremony are optionally available.
Depending on your preference and itinerary, I can guide you in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hakone so that you can enjoy your time in Japan.

What Is a Rainy-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report This was the first visit to Japan for the guests from North America. According to the forecast the day before, heavy rain was expected until the early afternoon, so I prepared a Plan B that included a museum and proposed it on the morning of the tour. However, the guests wanted to experience the real thing, so we decided to proceed as originally planned. Since walking was slow and we had to walk under umbrellas in the strong rain, I frequently included rest breaks so that the guests would not become too tired, and I chose barrier-free routes as much as possible. At our final stop in Asakusa, the weather cleared up, and I was glad we were able to finish the tour safely.

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Tour Report by Yuki

Hello, I’m Yukie Tachibana, national licensed tour guide living in Yokohama with my family. Please call me Yuki. I have been working as a tour guide for 5years mainly around Tokyo, Kanagawa, for example, Hakone, Kamakura, Yokohama and Kawasaki. I have had an experience of attending a lot of foreign visitors from all over the world in both private and group tours for sightseeing and business in one to multi-days. I’m able to arrange the tour for you, so please feel free to ask me your favorite plan in Japan as to spot, food and some activities. I like to see Buddhist statues in temples so I’d like to introduce our history and culture. Also because I like Japanese animation and character, and animals, I can take you to some shops for the animation and animal cafes that are so popular among tourists. Looking forward to seeing you soon and share wonderful time in Japan! Thank you.

Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for Cruise Ship Passengers? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from North America who arrived in Tokyo this morning by cruise ship. One of the guests had visited Japan around 20 times before but never for sightseeing, while it was the first visit for the group as a whole. At Tsukiji, we were fortunate to watch a tuna being cut at a shop. The group was impressed by the blend of Japanese and Western architectural styles at Hongan-ji Temple. At the Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa, the guests purchased some small items and we had an early lunch while taking shelter from the rain. The group was moved by the tranquility of Meiji Shrine. To wish for a long life together going forward, the guests took a photo at the "married couple" camphor trees. Takeshita Street was meaningful as a contrast to Meiji Shrine. When we reached Shinbashi, the weather cleared up, and on the way to the cruise terminal, the guests enjoyed the waterfront scenery from the Yurikamome line. During lunch and along the way, I explained the character and history of the Japanese people, and through that, one of the guests seemed to find explanations for things they had struggled to understand in their dealings with Japanese companies.

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Tour Report by Hideki

Hello! My name is Hideki Maruyama. I was born in Osaka and raised in the Greater Tokyo area. I obtained my National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter Certificate in February 2016.
I spent 23 years working at a leading Japanese automotive company, including 7 years posted overseas. I then worked for a German premium automotive manufacturer for 13 years, followed by 6 years as an advisor to a British energy company. Through these roles at global corporations, I developed and refined key skills such as:
1. Cross-cultural communication
2. A deep understanding of business elites and affluent customers
3. The ability to deliver impactful and impressive presentations in English
In addition to my regular duties, I often served as an interpreter for top executives during meetings with foreign government officials. I also had opportunities to introduce aspects of Japan—such as our national character and consumer preferences—to leadership teams in both the German and British companies.
As a tour guide, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding guests from a wide range of countries especially after the pandemic, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Turkey, Jordan, Kenya and Israel.
When guiding, I always keep in mind to go beyond what guests can find on social media or ChatGPT. I believe my professional background allows me to offer unique insights, and I am encouraged when guests mention this in their reviews

What Is a Private Car Tour of Tokyo Like on a Rainy Day? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America. They had spent a week traveling around the Kansai region and would be staying in Tokyo for four days starting today. Tomorrow they will join a guided tour of Tsukiji and other spots, after which they plan to visit TeamLab Planets on their own. The day after tomorrow they will explore on their own as well. I handed them a Tokyo Travel Guide along with metro and JR route maps, and explained the major sightseeing spots and routes. It rained heavily from the morning, and I was concerned about how the day would go, but since we had a vehicle, getting around was much easier. It was somewhat difficult to use visual aids in the rain, so I compensated with explanations inside the vehicle. The rain stopped at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, and although half of the Tokyo Skytree was hidden in the clouds on the way to Asakusa, by the time we reached the main hall of Senso-ji Temple, the sky had turned blue. The driver was also considerate about providing scenic views from the car window today, and I believe the guests were satisfied.

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Tour Report by Ted

I had worked in the international business scene for over 40 years and traveled to North America and European countries over 1000 days.
After I retired from the business, I traveled to most of the major sightseeing spots in all 47 prefectures in Japan.

My guide is starting from a brief history of the site where I am going to guide. I usually add a briefing about Japanese culture based on religions, such as Shinto Shrine and Buddhist temples. A geographic background behind the history is also important.
My course includes 4 to 5 (in 6 hours) sites from the following depending on where I will pick the guests up;
– Senso ji Temple
– Kappabashi Kitchenware Market
– Tokyo Skytree
– Ueno Park
– Nezu Shrine
– Imperial Palace outer park
– Tokyo Central Station, Marunouchi historic district
– Tsukiji Fish Market
– Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
– Ginza
– Odaiba
– Hama Rikyu Garden
– Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
– Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
– Roppongi
– Meiji Shrine
– Harajuku & Takeshita Street
– Shibuya
– and Any of your interest.

I am happy to introduce Japanese Manga/Anime cultures such as Akihabara, Nakano Broadway and Ghibli related sites.
Travelling along the JR central line where guests can stopover at major animation studios (it is not accepted to visit the inside). The majority of animation studios such as TMS Entertainment, SUNRISE, A1 Pictures etc. are located in this area. Suginami Animation museum, Studio Ghibli and Ghibli Museum are also located.
Guests can feel old houses in the Spirited Away scene in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

I can also provide a pilgrimage to the sacred place (shooting location) for the Shinkai Makoto animation movies such as Your name, Weathering with you, and Suzume.

Another interesting feature is to visit authentic Japanese style pub meals such as Yakitori, Karaage, and Sushi etc.
Asakusa Hoppy Street, Ameyoko Street, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinjuku Golden gai, Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho are nice to visit.

A Sake tasting at Sake Cellar can be an option.

In addition to the above, I am available in the neighboring cities.

Kawagoe is an old town developed in the 17th century. It has very close relationship with the Edo central government. Kawagoe castle ruins, Kitain temple and 500 Buddha statues will welcome the guests.
These areas are renovated and provide an old days atmosphere.
Japanese style sweets food stands will fascinate the guests.
Kawagoe is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

Kamakura is the first Samurai worriers government established in the late 12th century.
The Buddhism are introduced to Japan in the 6th century, and flourished at Nara and Kyoto later. A newer Buddhism sect such as Zen has well developed at Kamakura area.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Gigantic Buddha statue at Kotokuin Temple and the flower temple Hasedera Temple are must-see.
Kamakura is about 1 – 1.5 train trip from Tokyo.

I am also happy to develop any other site the guests have interest.

What Is a Private Okayama Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle The guests were from Europe: the group included a student. One of the guests spoke warmly on the phone during the tour. It was unfortunately a rainy day, but thankfully it was not a heavy downpour. Overseas guests often do not use umbrellas, but the guests had lovely umbrellas, and when I asked where they had bought them, the answer was a convenience store. They were surprisingly nice umbrellas for a convenience store. At Korakuen Garden, we purchased a combined ticket with Okayama Castle, and the student was admitted free upon presenting a student ID. They had been told to present it at Okayama Castle as well to be admitted free, but when we actually went to Okayama Castle, we were told that the free admission was "limited to high schools within Okayama Prefecture," and I found the difference in handling puzzling. It is true that Korakuen Garden is under the jurisdiction of Okayama Prefecture, while Okayama Castle is under the jurisdiction of Okayama City, but I felt they should adopt a unified standard. Initially, one of the guests had wished to also visit the Okayama Prefectural Museum located across from Korakuen Garden, but perhaps partly because of this, it was excluded from the destinations. At Korakuen Garden, the pond was being cleaned, so we were able to see a rare sight. It was also truly heartwarming to see them happily buying fu (wheat gluten) feed for the carp and feeding them. In addition, they bought several incense holders at the Korakuen Garden shop that they had missed buying in Kyoto, which put me at ease as well. Moreover, at Okayama Castle they were able to sit on a model horse, and looked very pleased. I heard that, like dancing, horseback riding was one of their hobbies. Finally, we strolled through Nishigawa Green Belt Park with its vivid fresh greenery before heading back. What surprised me was that one of the guests was gifted in languages, speaking not only Slovene and English but also, remarkably, Korean, Chinese, and a little Japanese. I was amazed when they explained the Hangul lettering of a Korean restaurant in town. This time, multiple guides handled the same guests, and their "coordination" paid off — for example, enabling the purchase of the incense holders — and I thought this new system was wonderful.

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Tour Report by Sam

My name is Susumu Hiramatsu. I am a national government licensed guide interpreter. I became a guide interpreter in 1992. My educational background started with a BA in law, then an MA in English language education, and completed a doctoral course without a degree in English language teaching. My occupational career began with a bank officer, then shifted to a translation and interpretation company, finally became a freelance translator, interpreter, and college teacher. I handle conference interpretation, namely simultaneous interpretation. As for the guide interpreter, my interest covers wide areas including politics and business, but I deem cultural aspects to be fundamental. I am always encouraging myself to be filled with Japanese hospitality.

Title: What Is a Private Tea Ceremony Experience in Kyoto Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. They had been looking forward to a tea ceremony experience, and the reservation was booked for 14:00–16:00, but it finished surprisingly quickly. The experience was for three participants, yet after paying 20,000 yen, it ended in only about 20 to 30 minutes. The guests were disappointed by how short it was, and although there were two guests, only one of them was allowed to perform the tea preparation. The sweets served were not fresh Kyoto-style confections but plain white manju buns. On top of that, I mistook the time and ended the session one hour early. I truly felt sorry for the trouble I caused the guests.

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Tour Report by Harumi

Hello, my name is Harumi, and I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter in Japan. I have been actively involved in volunteer activities for many years, sharing my passion for Japanese culture and history. As a kimono dressing instructor, I can provide hands-on kimono experiences and guide tours. Additionally, I have extensive knowledge of sumo wrestling, making my tours ideal for those interested in this fascinating sport. I am also well-versed in Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings (Jūdenken) and can introduce historical townscapes dating back to the Edo period. If you are interested, I would be happy to show you around the sake brewing process in the Nada region.

What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, Yanaka, and Shibuya The guests were visiting Japan for the first time, arriving from Europe. The purpose of this trip to Japan was to board an 11-day cruise departing from the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, starting the day after next. They had arrived at Haneda Airport the previous night and taken a taxi to their hotel. The night before, they had joined a food tour in the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku. They said they wanted to see the main sights of Tokyo today, and to relax at the hotel the following day. They also mentioned they wanted to enjoy eating from food stalls. Although it was overcast, we were able to finish the tour without rain. It took some time to meet the guests (as described later), so we departed about 30 minutes later than planned. First, we went to Tsukiji. As always, it was very crowded. I explained "the history of the fish market since the Edo period" and "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 is crowded, but it does seem there are many tourists." They said they wanted to try something, but not raw fish. In the end they purchased and sampled grilled king crab, shumai dumplings, and fried oysters. They also purchased matcha. After that, we moved to Asakusa. We started from the front of Kaminarimon Gate. I explained "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what the five-story pagoda is for," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took commemorative photos at Kaminarimon and various spots, and slowly strolled along the fully packed Nakamise shopping street. There were questions such as "What are the main religions in Japan?" "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?" and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people follow?" There was also a question about why one sees people wearing kimono within the temple grounds. Since they expressed a wish to go somewhere off the usual tourist track and not crowded, we headed to the Yanaka-Nezu-Sendagi area. About Yanaka Ginza, they commented, "It is quiet and calm; this is the kind of place we wanted to visit." At a bakery, they purchased and sampled sandwiches. They also had beer at a standing bar. At Nezu Shrine, we passed through the torii gates and paid our respects. The azaleas were nearly in full bloom. They said, "Unlike Asakusa, it is quiet, and I prefer this." We moved to Shibuya. Looking at Shibuya Scramble Square, they said, "I do not want to walk inside there." There were also questions such as "About how many people cross at once?" and "Why did it become famous?" We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. There were comments and questions such as "The city is clean and there is no litter on the ground. We sometimes travel to various parts of Europe, but everywhere is full of trash," "There are no trash bins on the streets. Why is that?" "Everyone is quiet on the trains," "The subway is far better made than the London Underground," and "There are vending machines everywhere." We saw them off at Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station and parted ways.

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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.

What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hakodate Like? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were visitors from Europe. They were soft-spoken and courteous, and they listened attentively to the explanations and stories. At the morning market, they asked where the crab and salmon came from and how these are eaten. I did not expect that they would also want to go inside the Hakodate Magistrate's Office. They asked about the construction of Japanese houses, samurai, and ninja, which made the guiding rewarding. It was also interesting to talk about trends among the younger generation in their home region. I had wanted to talk in more detail about the churches in the Motomachi district, but it started raining earlier than expected, and since we did not have umbrellas, we ended the tour and returned to the hotel.

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Tour Report by Akira

Hello, my name is Akira Matsumoto, a national government-licensed guide in Hakodate and Sapporo. I’m a retired public school science teacher and have been working as a professional tour guide for more than five years. (Before retirement, I used to work as a volunteer guide mainly in Hakodate for more than 10 years) So I know every corner of Hakodate and its history, culture, and food.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I got into the graduate school of Hokkaido University, and in Japan’s modern history.
So I am well-versed in Japanese history, Hokkaido’s local history, and the Ainu aborigine people’s culture.
I can offer you an informative and enjoyable tour with a polite and hospitable atmosphere.
I like to interact and communicate with foreign people and introduce my guests to Japan’s beautiful scenery, wonderful culture,
and best food. I assure you that I will welcome you with my best hospitality and make every effort to make your tour a good memory.

Title: What Is a Private Sake Brewery and Castle Tour in Morioka Like? A Licensed Guide's Report Around 13:40, I met the guests, who arrived by Shinkansen from Sendai, at the Shinkansen ticket gate. The Shinkansen ticket gates were said to have two entrances, a south and a north gate, but when I actually did an advance check, I found that there is now only one. Since I had told them we would meet at the north gate, I sent an update via a messaging app. I was able to meet the guests without trouble, though one of them arrived at the gate a little later than the other and seemed rather tired. For the Welcome Board, I used one that said "Good looking guests," and the guests laughed. Also, for the first time, I tried using the phrase, "I've been so looking forward to meeting you." As I had exchanged messages several times beforehand via a messaging app, they seemed a little pleased. The current JR Morioka Station is under renovation, so it looks different from usual. For older visitors, going up and down stairs can be quite hard. I had known for some time that the JR Morioka Station building is barrier-free, so this time I did an advance check of a route that could reach the hotel in front of the station without using any stairs at all. On this day my right knee was hurting and going up and down the station stairs was difficult (I tend to get gout). The hotel where they were staying is right in front of the station, but you cannot reach the hotel without going through an underground passage. For those with weak legs or knees, the underground passage is the most difficult part. This time we used a total of three elevators and were able to reach the hotel without using any stairs at all. Inside the Morioka Station building there is a restaurant street named "Fesan," along with souvenir shops, a prepared-food corner, and shopping areas. While transferring between elevators, we happened to pass a yakitori shop I like named "Nihon-ichi" inside Fesan. I promoted it by saying, "It may not be number one in Japan as the name claims, but it's a pretty tasty yakitori shop." The guest seemed to like Fesan. We arrived at the hotel at 14:00. I had the guests check in, and since they seemed to need a little rest, we decided to meet again in the hotel lobby at 14:55. I had the hotel reserve a taxi, and at 14:55 we set off for the "Asabiraki Sake Brewery." On the way, I asked the driver to take a route where the stone walls of Morioka Castle Ruins Park could be seen from inside the taxi. I explained the history of Morioka Castle. We arrived at "Asabiraki" in no time. Right after arriving, before the factory tour, I explained that sake is a gift to the gods, and that good-quality water and rice are the most important things of all. Regarding the sugidama (cedar ball), I explained that the cedar branches are 'green' (each November) and 'brown' (matured). Then at the factory we changed from shoes into slippers and went up to the fourth floor by stairs, and at this point I sensed that one of the guests seemed to be having a hard time. Even when I asked "Are you okay?" the guest said "I'm fine." The person explaining the Factory Tour was someone who has helped me several times before. The explanation of the process was in Japanese, so I interpreted, but partway through their questions were completely different from those of guests I had guided before. Several technical terms came flying out. For example, questions like "What do you do with the lees?" I thought, "Wait! What's that?" but I couldn't say "I don't know," so I inferred from the context that it might mean the 'leftover residue,' and there were several times I relayed this to the explainer. Here, if I could have said something like, "In sake making, nothing goes to waste. We do not throw away what remains," it would have been cool. As always, I felt disappointed in myself. These things do stay in your memory. Around this time, I began to think, "Something's a little unusual here. These people aren't just casual sake lovers." As it turned out, one of the guests was the owner of a beer brewing company. And from Europe, no less. I later felt embarrassed about my poor explanations in English. What I learned this time: "The process of making delicious sake" ① (The magic of Koji) Koji mold turns rice starch into sugar. ② (Rice polishing) We polish the rice to remove impurities for a clearer taste. ③ (Fermentation harmony) In sake making, sugar turns into alcohol at the same time. This parallel fermentation is very unique in the world. I gave a brief explanation of the yabusame (horseback archery) at Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. I feel I want to work harder so I can give a more in-depth explanation of Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. Next, after the shrine, our next destination was the Suzuki Morihisa Studio. Unfortunately, the shop was closed. Here, in 1974 the 14th-generation Suzuki Morihisa was designated as an Intangible Cultural Property. It has 400 years of history. Next we visited the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building, but this too was closed and we could not go inside. "The Iwate Bank Red Brick Building is the former Iwate Bank head office built in 1911, designed by Kingo Tatsuno, who also designed Tokyo Station." And right next to it there is a rose garden, and in summer colorful, beautiful roses soothe us. Then we headed to the Morioka History and Culture Museum. Once again it was closed. However, at the entrance, well-tended violets comforted us. There was a signboard at the violet flower bed that read "~ Rotary Club," and one of the guests spoke to me, saying, "We met at a Rotary Club in North America." What is strange is that the signboard had no English at all and was written only in Japanese, so how did they know it was a Rotary Club? Here too, I took a photo of the guests. That morning, after arriving at JR Morioka Station, I had stopped by the tourist information office and confirmed the closing times of the Suzuki Morihisa Studio, the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building, and the Morioka History and Culture Museum, but they had not said a single word about them being closed. Even though two staff members had said the Morioka History and Culture Museum closes at 19:00…… I felt very frustrated. I think the guests probably felt the same way. What should I check, and where? Regaining my composure, we entered Morioka Castle Ruins Park. There were two large plane trees. There's a song that goes "♬ This tree, what tree, the tree that catches your attention, a tree you've never seen before ♬," and every time I come to this park that song plays in my head. Plane trees are apparently called "plane tree." Leaving the "plane trees" behind, we headed toward where the former castle keep once stood. Just as we started up a slightly steep slope, one of the guests began to feel a little unwell, and after discussing it, one of them returned to the hotel first alone. The other continued the walk around the park. After it became just the two of us, I was told that the guest who returned was undergoing chemotherapy and sometimes feels unwell. Since a member of my own family has also had a similar experience, I told the guest that it's important not to overdo it. After Iwate Park, we prayed at Sakurayama Shrine. Here, I explained the origin of the Eboshi-iwa rock in the precincts and the mukai-zuru (facing cranes), which is the symbol of the Nanbu clan. I think the guest was understandably becoming worried about the other guest. Leaving Sakurayama Shrine, we walked back to the hotel in front of the station, and the tour came to an end. Since the guest was worried, we ended the tour a little early.

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Tour Report by Toshi

Hello and welcome! If you’re an inbound guest, I’d like to extend a warm greeting to you. I hope you have a pleasant stay in our beautiful city. If there’s anything you need, feel free to ask – I’m here to assist! My name’s Toshiya Ozawa. Please call me Toshi. I have 25 years’ experience as National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter guiding in English. Presently, I live in Ohsyu-shi, Iwate-ken where the Major Baseball player Shohei Ohtani was born and bred. The followings are the places where I attended as a tour guide for your reference. [Guide experience] Nara’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Japan’s largest lake Lake biwa and Azuchi-jyo Ruins in Shiga prefecture. Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara:Horyu-ji, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple. Former Site of the Imperial Palace at Heijokyo, Todaiji Temple, along with Kasugataisha Shrine and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Koyasan (Shukubo Rengejo-in) shukubo literally means sleeping with the monks. Yagyu-no-sato (or the swordsman village of Yagyu), known as the home of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu (traditional style of swordsmanship), is located in Northeast of Nara-city with rich natural environment. In Kyoto: JR Kyoto Station, The Golden Pavilion, World Heritage Site Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle, Ryoan-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple. In Mie Prefecture: Ise Shrine, Wadakin (Japan’s one of the best wagyu-beef restaurant, Matsusaka-shi). In Shiga prefecture: Mother Lake Lake Biwa, Azuchi Castle ruins.
In Tokyo: Meiji shrine, Odaiba, Imperial Palace, Takeshita Street in Harajyuku, Akihabara (the otaku mecca and has its own unique atmosphere), Asakusa Kannon (Bodhisattva of Mercy) Sensoji Temple, and Tokyo Tower.
In Shizuoka Prefecture: Mt. Fuji.
In Aichi prefecture: 1. Atsuta Shrine 2. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology 3. Inuyama Castle (Inuyama-shi) 4. Ohsu Shopping District 5. Konomiya Naked Festival (Inazawa-shi) 6.Tagata Jinja Shrine’s Honen Festival 7. Toyota Automobile Museum (Nagakute-shi) 8. Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya (Yotsuya Senmaida) (Shinshiro-shi) 9. Asuke/Korankei (Toyota-shi Asuke-cho) 10. Chubu Centrair International Airport 11. Rest Stop (Highway Oasis Kariya, Donguri-no-sato Inabu)

10 years’ experience in a trading operations position and 7 years’ experience as an Exporting Manager and 5 years’ experience as a Domestic Sales Representative: All of the experiences above included contacts with respective customers both externally and internally.
I spent more than 2 years in the United States and Canada. Attended Kibbutz Hebrew class for six months in Israel.

Aug1991– present MASPRO DENKOH Corporation, Aichi prefecture in Japan.
Sales presentative/Exporting Manager “Export of TV reception and related equipment to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand”
Negotiated prices and specifications with the makers “Drafting and arranging the needed documentations requested by custom houses”
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supply of CS antennas to SONY Corporation
OEM supply of U.S. DirecTV Satellite Dish Antenna Dual LNB to Sony Corporation
Attended the customers from overseas when they came to the head office
Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O. (engaged in direct report to the company president)
Import of invaluable western style paintings, Japanese potteries and porcelains
Export of receiver and transmitter for Qualcomm Omni TRACS Ku-band satellite fleet tracking system in the U.S.
Export of CATV Tap-off for Time Warner Cable in the U.S. OEM supply of ETC In-Vehicle Unit in Singapore to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Apr. 1989–March 1991, employed by ESPO Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Manager of secretarial section to the C.E.O
Interpreter, translator to the C.E.O “Assisted M&A transactions”
Formula 1 ESPO-LARROUSSE Team negotiation and interpreter. Was in charge of training new staff (26 university graduates )
Supervised new graduate recruitment activities as a part of training new staff and successfully recruited 40 prospective employees
Apr 1976 – March 1991 Nissait English School in Tokyo, Japan
1989 Director of Nissait English School “Management of English schools in Tokyo and Saitama prefecture”
Instructor: Taught English conversation more than 1000 students “Was in charge of training new instructors (12 vocational college graduates )”
Supervised new student recruitment activities as a part of training new instructors and successfully recruited 420 students at ten different schools for 5 years
Was in charge of International Exchange program
Chaperoned and supervised 160 Japanese youth delegates for cultural immersion homestays in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Education: In 1976, Completed the curriculum at a university, received a degree of B.A. in Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University, in Tokyo.

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Certified as a National Licensed English-Speaking Tour Guide in 2009 (License No. Aichi EN00307)
Passed Grade 1 of the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency in 1989.

Can You Do a Private Tokyo Tour Before a Cruise from Yokohama? A Licensed Guide's Report The guests were a group from North America visiting Japan for the first time. This tour was a Tokyo sightseeing trip making use of the time just before boarding a Japan sightseeing cruise ship departing from Yokohama. They traveled from a hotel in Yokohama to Tokyo by taxi, and we met under the Japanese national flag on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station. First, I introduced Tokyo Station. Then, while discussing where to end the tour, we decided that returning to Yokohama by Shinkansen would be smooth and would also let the guests experience the bullet train, so we purchased tickets to Shin-Yokohama and I introduced the entrance on the Yaesu side. We then walked to Nihombashi Station and took the Tozai Line to Takebashi Station. This first subway experience was somewhat surprising for some of the guests, who normally travel only by car in daily life. Going down the stairs also posed a physical burden, along with some psychological strain, so from that point on we decided not to use public transportation and to travel by taxi as much as possible to reduce the walking distance. First, we entered the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, which had been a top point of interest, through the Hirakawamon Gate. The guests strolled leisurely through the Ninomaru Garden, and they seemed especially captivated by the beauty of the long-tailed nishikigoi. To keep the walking as flat as possible, I only explained the site of the former castle keep and, without climbing the slope, we headed toward the Hyakunin Bansho, the Doshin Bansho, and the Otemon Gate. At a shop just before it, the guests purchased chopsticks bearing the imperial crest, and they also stamped a commemorative seal on the East Gardens leaflet to keep as a souvenir. Considering how the walking had gone up to that point, I had judged that visiting Meiji Shrine and the National Museum would be difficult, and the guests themselves requested that we remove the National Museum from the plan. Since one of the guests had many dietary considerations, we decided to move to the Shin-Marunouchi Building, which offered many options within a flat walking distance, to have lunch. I showed them the entire restaurant floor, and the guests chose Franz Club, a German restaurant, since they wanted Western-style food. It was fortunate that we could be seated without waiting. They ordered items such as Milanese-style cutlet and pretzels, and one of the guests ordered a beer, and they were very satisfied. They emphasized how clean Japanese towns are and asked what lay behind this, so I talked about the Japanese education system in which students themselves clean their classrooms after class, as well as home education and environmental education. Within that conversation there were also questions about values such as frugality and thrift, and the topic developed into Bushido. The conversation grew lively, and after lunch there was no time left to visit Meiji Shrine, and we also needed to make sure not to miss the already-issued 4:12 Shinkansen departing from Tokyo Station. So, we viewed places easily accessible by taxi, such as Tokyo Tower and the Niten-mon Gate of the Yushoin Mausoleum at Zojoji Temple, from the taxi window, and arrived at the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station shortly after 3:30. On Character Street, some of the guests purchased souvenirs for their grandchildren. Finally, I saw them off on the platform to make sure they could board their reserved Nozomi train, and we parted ways.

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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!