Tokyo: Suidobashi Station & Shinkyo bus stop — Guide Masa

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

The guests were visitors who came to Japan from North America, and it was their first visit to Japan. They arrived at Narita Airport a week earlier and took a taxi to their accommodation. They were staying in Japan for about two weeks. Up until the previous day, they had explored various areas within Tokyo, and from the following day they planned to visit Kyoto, Nara, Kinosaki, and Osaka before returning to Tokyo and then heading home.

Since photography was a hobby, they mentioned they wanted to take photos in many different places.

The tour took place under humid weather with a mix of sunshine and clouds.

We traveled from Kita-Senju to Nikko via the Tobu Railway Nikko Line. On the train, I explained the origins of Nikko, about Tokugawa Ieyasu, and about the Edo period and the Meiji Restoration. The guests had already read up on the materials in advance and seemed quite knowledgeable about Japanese history.

I also explained the history of the Nikko Kanaya Hotel.

Because photography was their hobby, they expressed a wish to focus on the important spots and to spend a relaxed amount of 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 guests seemed interested in the facilities within the villa and took photos in various places. They said they now had a good understanding of what the residence of a noble Japanese person of old times was like.

We moved to central Nikko by bus.

First, we visited Nikko Futarasan Shrine. They remarked that the row of cedar trees was wonderful, adding that where they live it is always dry. We strolled leisurely through the grounds.

From here, we walked to Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

Despite it being a weekday, it was very crowded with group visitors from overseas and groups of Japanese schoolchildren and students.

We went around the Yomeimon Gate, the main hall, and the crying dragon in order. They seemed particularly fond of the "Three Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat," and spent a lot of time photographing them.

At Rinnoji Temple, they admired the cherry tree in front of the main hall and the Japanese garden, taking their time to photograph them.

We walked to the Shinkyo Bridge. For some reason there were not many tourists here, so they could take photos leisurely in various spots.

After this, we took a short break at a facility, then took a bus to Tobu Nikko Station. They commented that Nikko was cooler than Tokyo, and that Toshogu was completely different from the Japanese shrines they had seen so far — quite lavish, with many decorations, and very interesting.

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

I saw them off from Kita-Senju Station, via Akihabara Station, to Suidobashi Station, where 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.