Tochigi in One Day: Shinkyo Bridge — Guide Yumi

Title: What Is a Private Day Tour of Nikko Like for a Family Visiting Japan? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had come to Japan for a baseball goodwill event, and everyone in the group loved baseball and wore caps of a baseball team.

The itinerary we had decided on beforehand by email consisted mainly of buildings and historical sites in the World Heritage area, so I thought some of the guests might get bored, and I offered to change the plan to a national park instead. However, they said the original course was fine. As I had expected, in the latter half some of the guests seemed less interested, and with the heat they lost some energy, so I asked whether they would like to end the tour early, but they wanted to continue as planned. I was a little concerned about fatigue since there was an event the following day, but the guests did not seem worried at all. I lent them the cooling packs I had brought, took them to shaded and cooler spots as often as possible, and made sure they stayed hydrated, and we managed to complete the planned course to the end. During short breaks, some of the guests played games to refresh themselves. I realized it would be good for me to prepare some material that everyone in the group can enjoy as well.

One of the guests was very keen on taking photos. They took many photos themselves, and at every location I also took group photos as requested. This guest was very particular about how the photos turned out, and if the location, angle, brightness, or people appearing in the background were not to their liking, we would retake them many times. (Given how crowded it was, this was to some extent unavoidable.) I gradually came to understand their preferences, so by the latter half I was no longer asked to retake photos.

Normally during my tours I communicate a lot with the guests and become friendly with them, but this time, while riding the bus or during lunch, the guests were talking quickly among themselves while showing each other their phones, so it was hard to join their conversation. Still, they seemed to be enjoying themselves, so I left them to it.

Since I had heard they liked ramen and gyoza, I took them to a restaurant with a variety of choices.

Their conversation was very fast-paced, so it was challenging to keep up with the rhythm, but they listened seriously to my explanations at both Rinnoji Temple and Toshogu Shrine, and they said of the grandeur of the imperial villa buildings, "I really love this atmosphere!" At the end, when I asked whether they had enjoyed themselves, they were delighted and said it had been very fun and thanked me, which reassured me.

Click here for more details: Nikko Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Yumi

Hello! My name is Yumi. The Nikko area, Nasu area, in Tochigi Prefecture, and Aizu and Shirakawa area in Fukushima prefecture, where I will be guiding you, are not only surrounded by beautiful nature in all four seasons but are also full of historical attractions. Nikko, in particular, is a great place to learn about the culture and history that has shaped Japan to this day. In order for you to truly enjoy your day, I am flexible to your wishes and will prepare your day to be a great day. Because I am a local guide, you will surely see some sights that are not in the guidebooks. Is local food one of your favorite parts of your trip? I am also a sushi-making instructor for foreigners, so food is one of my specialties. I am also a certified sake navigator. Why don’t you come and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with me?