Tokyo: Tokyo Station & Shinkyo bus stop — Guide Masa

What Is a Private Day Trip from Tokyo to Nikko Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guest was visiting Japan for the first time, arriving from North America.

The guest explained, "This was originally meant to be a trip with a friend, but the friend fell ill and was advised by a doctor not to travel, so it became a solo trip."

The guest was staying in Japan for about three weeks. After flying into Kansai Airport, the guest visited Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Hida-Takayama, and Shirakawa-go before heading to Tokyo.

Before visiting Japan, the guest had traveled through Oceania, and after leaving Japan planned to visit Oceania again as well as several countries in Asia, for a total of about three months of overseas travel.

The guest mentioned, "I have traveled to about 90 countries so far. This is a long overseas trip to celebrate a milestone."

The tour took place in the rain, under chilly weather.

We traveled from Asakusa to Nikko via the Tobu Railway Nikko Line. On the train, I explained "the origins of Nikko," "about Tokugawa Ieyasu," and "the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration." The guest appeared to have already read through reference materials in advance.

The guest requested, "Photography is my hobby, so I would like to focus on the important spots and spend a bit more time at each one."

First, we took a bus from Tobu Nikko Station to the Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa.

There were not many tourists, so it was quiet. The guest seemed interested in the facilities inside the villa and took photos in many places. Unfortunately, the weeping cherry blossoms had already fallen.

The guest said, "I got a good sense of what the home of a Japanese noble of old times was like."

We moved to the central part of Nikko by bus.

First, we visited Nikko Futarasan Shrine. Although it took some time to take photos outdoors while holding an umbrella, we strolled slowly.

From there we walked to Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

Despite the rain, it was very crowded with tour groups from overseas and groups of Japanese schoolchildren and students.

We went around the Yomeimon Gate, the main hall, and the crying dragon in turn. The guest especially seemed to like the "three monkeys" and the "sleeping cat," and spent a lot of time photographing them.

At Rinnoji Temple, the cherry blossoms in front of the main hall were still in full bloom, and the guest took photos.

We walked to the Shinkyo Bridge. For some reason there were not many tourists here, so we took our time photographing in various spots.

After this, we took a short break at a shop, then took a bus to Tobu Nikko Station.

The guest said, "Toshogu is completely different from the Japanese shrines I have seen so far. It is quite lavish, unusual, and fascinating."

On the way back, the guest mostly napped on the train.

I saw the guest off to Tokyo Station via Asakusa Station and Ueno Station, and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: Customized Tour, 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.