Tokyo: Shiomi Station & Nishisando Bus Stop — Guide Masa

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

The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, all coming to Japan for the first time. Part of the group divides their time between two European cities, living half the year in each, while the others reside in another European city. The guests came from various backgrounds within Europe.

They had arrived at Haneda two mornings earlier and taken a taxi to their hotel. During the daytime they explored Akihabara and Ginza. The group planned to stay in Japan for fifteen days. The day after next they planned a day trip to Hakone, followed by visits to Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka, before departing from Kansai Airport to visit other destinations abroad on their way home. Some of the guests followed a plant-based diet.

The whole group had a very relaxed, easygoing temperament — moving at their own pace, unconcerned about time, and loving to chat.

It was an overcast day, though we were not rained on. On the way we took the "Spacia," and on the return the "Liberty Kegon" (the trains were full).

With a little time before the train's departure, we briefly strolled through the grounds of Senso-ji Temple. On board, I explained the history of Japan and of Edo/Tokyo, Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Tokugawa shogunate, the history of Nikko Toshogu, the period of national isolation, the Meiji Restoration, and the system of alternate attendance (sankin-kotai).

After arriving at Tobu-Nikko Station, we took a bus to the Shinkyo Bridge. We then took our time visiting Rinno-ji Temple, Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, and Taiyuin.

There were many questions, such as "What are the torii gates for?", "What kind of religion is Shinto? How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?", and "Why was the five-story pagoda built?" (Buddhism and Shinto proved quite difficult for them to grasp.) On the other hand, they already knew the stories behind the "Three Wise Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat."

We had lunch at a teahouse near the Nishi-Sando bus stop. They enjoyed a "yuba set meal" and "sansai soba." There was even a question of whether the broth was made from bonito or kelp. One of the guests remarked, "From now on, whenever we have trouble finding a meal, we'll just go into a soba shop."

After this we headed to Kanmangafuchi Abyss. Taking photographs here and there, they strolled slowly, saying "The river flow is so beautiful" and "I love walking along paths like this."

We then took a bus from the Nishi-Sando bus stop back to Tobu-Nikko Station. On the way home, the Tobu Nikko Line was significantly delayed due to a personal accident.

They made comments such as "Everywhere in the city is clean and beautiful. There's no litter on the ground," "There are no homeless people," and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant." They also found the subway hard to understand, so in the end I saw them off at Shiomi 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.