This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Tour Itinerary

  • 930 Shimizu Port → Miho no Matsubara → Nihondaira Yume Terrace → Nihondaira Ropeway → Kunozan Toshogu Shrine → Nihondaira Ropeway → Nihondaira Parking Lot → 1300 Shimizu Port

Can You Do a Private Day Trip to See Mount Fuji from Shizuoka? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group from North America. Since they wished for an itinerary with views of Mount Fuji, I proposed and carried out a plan that took into account the fact that the mountain is usually not visible in the afternoon, and that Miho no Matsubara offers a higher chance of a clear view than the Nihondaira Yume Terrace, so we visited Miho no Matsubara first. As a result, despite it being a summer day, Mount Fuji was seen far more clearly than expected from Miho no Matsubara, and everyone was delighted. The group especially enjoyed playing at the water's edge, and I believe it became a trip that left wonderful memories. By consistently staying ahead of the cruise ship group buses throughout the itinerary, there was almost no waiting time for the ropeway that I had been worried about, which turned out to be the greatest success of the day.

Since I completely retired from my position at a railway company and started being involved in the tour guide interpreter business, I have experienced almost all types of guiding through FIT, Long Group Tours, Cruises (Shore Excursions), Incentive Tours, Special Interest Tours (Railway Travel, Pilgrimages), Familiarization Tours (Sales Promotion Tours) etc.
However, I noticed that I am not fully satisfied to only be a general guide who just manages a tour itinerary provided by tour agents/clients.
High-end guests have sometimes requested me to answer some enquiries that are actually challenging to answer for Japanese nationals. However, I appreciated those because they provided such a challenge and I felt that they wanted to understand my sense of beauty/values as a guide concerning a new culture for them.
Every time I host my guest I do my best to prepare the most appropriate information based on three travel elements (appetite, logistics, accommodation). Nevertheless, I decided to aim for higher guiding skills after I was motivated by senior guides whose guiding strategies and gestures were particularly impressive.

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