Tokyo: Higashi-ginza Station & Shinkyo Bus Stop — Guide Masa

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

The guests were visitors from North America, both visiting Japan for the first time. They arrived at Haneda the previous evening and took a taxi to their hotel. In the evening, they enjoyed sushi in Ginza.

They planned to stay in Japan for a while. From the following day, they intended to visit Hakone, and then travel through Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Hiroshima, before returning to Tokyo and heading home. Their wish was to "visit as many different places in Japan as possible."

It was a tour under clear skies. Nikko, as expected, was cooler than Tokyo, and the tour took place in weather that felt almost cold.

We traveled both ways on the "Revaty Kegon" limited express (the train was full on both trips).

On the train, I explained topics such as "the history of Japan and of Edo/Tokyo," "Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Tokugawa shogunate," "the history of Nikko Toshogu," "national isolation (sakoku)," "the Meiji Restoration," and "sankin-kotai (alternate attendance)."

After arriving at Tobu Nikko Station, I checked traffic conditions at the tourist information center. I was told that "the Irohazaka road is not very congested," so we first took a bus to Kegon Falls.

The comment was, "It's spectacular. It's a different scene from Niagara, and very interesting."

After this, we returned to central Nikko and first visited "Tamozawa Imperial Villa." (The guest was interested in "Japanese houses" and "Japanese gardens.")

We toured the villa slowly and carefully, and the guests remarked, "The construction of the ceilings and the fusuma sliding doors is wonderful."

After this, we took a bus to the entrance of the West Approach.

First, we had a soba lunch at the "Fujiya Tourist Center."

After that, we first went to Futarasan Shrine and Taiyuin.

I explained "the differences between Buddhism and Shinto" and "the Japanese view of religion."

There were questions such as, "What are torii gates for?", "What kind of religion is Shinto? How does it differ from Buddhism?", and "Why is the five-story pagoda built?"

(The distinction between Buddhism and Shinto was rather difficult to convey.)

We then continued on to Toshogu and Rinnoji, taking photos enthusiastically in many spots.

As for the "Three Wise Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat," the guests already knew the stories behind them.

At the Shinkyo Bridge, there were comments and questions such as, "The flow of the river is beautiful and clear," and "Does this river flow from Kegon Falls?"

They also said, "I would have liked to visit Lake Chuzenji as well."

There were comments such as, "Everywhere in Japan is clean and tidy. There's no litter on the ground," "There are no homeless people," and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant."

They also said, "Next time I come to Japan, rather than tourist spots, I'd like to go somewhere I can see the ordinary daily life of Japanese people."

After returning to Tokyo, I saw them off at Higashi-Ginza 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.