Tokyo Customized Full-Day Private Tour — Guide Noripy

What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like for a Group New to Japan? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They had previously traveled around Asia, including Thailand and Vietnam, and this trip to Japan was decided largely because some of the guests were especially interested in Japan. Following a request for "places that the younger generation can enjoy," we visited spots that matched that theme, but the whole group was cheerful and lively, and everyone across the generations had a wonderful time together. At the same time, they intended to send video and photos of the trip as a birthday celebration for a family member who was not on this trip, so they were recording the journey throughout. The first of these was the group singing "Happy Birthday" together at the hotel and filming it on a smartphone. It was an upbeat day from start to finish. The day before this tour, right after arriving in Japan, they had joined a Shinjuku food tour, traveling by taxi between the hotel and Shinjuku. On this tour, we first purchased PASMO cards, and it was their first time riding the subway, with the guests enthusiastically photographing the trains from the station platform. What the guests were most interested in was eating. They wanted to try as many different kinds of food as possible, so they took on the challenge mainly along food streets, sharing dishes among the group. In Asakusa they tried strawberry daifuku, mitarashi dango, and matcha; in the Yanaka shopping street they tried menchi-katsu, cheese chicken fry, and a stick-shaped sweet baked snack; on Takeshita Street they tried strawberries on a stick coated in candy, and crepes. At a Kyushu Jangara ramen shop in Harajuku there was a line to get in, but they wanted to go anyway, so after waiting about 15 minutes they split up at the counter seats and each tried what they liked. One of the guests loves extremely spicy food and ordered something with a very high spice level. Everyone was very satisfied, saying it was "very delicious." Afterward, at Meiji Shrine, one of the guests stopped in front of the ema plaque rack, wrote a wish, and offered it. In addition to food, they sought experiences unique to Japan, and along with traditional ones such as drawing omikuji at Sensoji Temple, using the purification fountain, and worshipping at Meiji Shrine, they showed strong interest in the piglet cafe I introduced on Takeshita Street as part of modern culture. Since it was possible to enter without a reservation, they spent nearly 40 minutes there even though it was not on the plan. At one point eight piglets were sitting on the lap of one of the guests at the same time, many photos were taken, and it seemed to be a very satisfying and unique experience. According to the plan, the tour was supposed to end after taking them to Shinjuku, but since they had already done the Shinjuku experience, including the Godzilla head, the day before, we toured Shibuya, including Cat Street from the Harajuku side and the top floor of Miyashita Park, and we parted ways after they were amazed by the robot cafe inside FUKURAS.

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Tour Report by Noripy

Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!