Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa Station & Jomyoji Bus Stop — Guide Masa

Can You Do a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Kamakura? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe, visiting Japan for the first time. Some of the guests could only walk slowly and needed to rest at several points during the day. They had arrived at Narita Airport the previous day and taken a taxi to their hotel. The day before, they had strolled around Asakusa.

This visit spanned fourteen days. In addition to Tokyo, they planned to travel to Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and other places before returning to Tokyo and heading home.

They commented, "Tokyo was crowded everywhere and it was tiring. In that respect, Kamakura felt quiet, and I thought it was a place where one could relax."

The tour took place in warm, almost hot weather.

We traveled from Asakusa Station via Ueno Station to Kamakura Station, then took the Enoden line to Hase. Both the Enoden train and the approach path were extremely crowded with tourists.

Along the way, I explained "the history of Kamakura," "the history of Edo and Tokyo," "the feudal system," and "the Meiji Restoration." I also explained "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." There were questions such as "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" and "What other religions do people follow?"

One of the guests entered the interior of the Great Buddha and said, "Now I understand well how the Great Buddha was made." There was also a question: "Since we are also going to Nara, we would like to see the Great Buddha in Nara. Which one is bigger? And which one was made first?"

We walked to Hasedera Temple. "The garden inside the temple is wonderful," they said. One of the guests waited at the soba restaurant near the entrance, enjoying a beer.

We returned to Kamakura Station on the Enoden line and took a bus to Hokokuji Temple. One of the guests strongly wished to see the bamboo grove. The other waited seated at the entrance. We strolled slowly through the bamboo grove.

We took a bus back to Kamakura Station and walked to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Here too, one of the guests waited at the soba restaurant near the entrance of Komachi Street, enjoying a beer.

I again explained "about Shinto" and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." I also explained the respective methods of worship. We took photos in front of the sake barrels. We strolled slowly through the crowded grounds, and also visited the Inari shrine within the precincts.

Afterward, we walked along the very crowded Komachi Street back to Kamakura Station. One of the guests purchased chopsticks as a souvenir.

Their comments included: "I felt Japan is very safe," "There is no litter on the streets," "I don't see any homeless people," and "Everyone is polite."

I saw them off from Kamakura Station via Ueno Station to Asakusa Station, and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Kamakura Day Trip from Tokyo in 1 Day 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.