Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Tachi

Title: What's a Private Art Museum Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private art museum tour in Tokyo for guests visiting from North America. In advance, the guests had expressed a wish to visit museums and proposed four locations (contact was made via a messaging app, though it turned out on the day that the number belonged to an overseas agent). At the meeting point, the guests requested recommendations for vintage kimono shops, so the guide picked out five or six shops in Asakusa. Since none of the shops had English websites, the guide sent a list of shop names to the guests' own number via the messaging app, which took about 30 minutes.

At the guests' suggestion, we took a taxi to the Mori Art Museum. We viewed the "Louise Bourgeois" exhibition (the guide entered free by showing the guide license) and stayed for about 30 minutes; the guests were very absorbed, as this was an artist they knew well. They had also hoped to see the Tokyo City View, but gave it up after being told the view would be poor due to rain.

With the light rain, we took a taxi to the National Art Center, Tokyo, which was less than a 10-minute walk away. We viewed the special exhibition "Keiichi Tanaami: Adventures in Memory" (here the guide also needed an admission fee and waited at the exit). Not being well-versed in art, the guide felt a little anxious, but was relieved to see the guests both enjoyed it. The conversation moved from trivia about the late Kisho Kurokawa, who designed this museum, to their frank opinions on a former U.S. president, and they gradually opened up.

Next, we walked a few minutes to the Suntory Museum of Art on the third floor of Tokyo Midtown. On the same floor there are many shops selling traditional Japanese-brand crafts (which the guide had marked during a preliminary visit). We stopped at "Nihonbashi Kiya," where the woodworking knife the guests wanted was out of stock (available at the main store in Nihonbashi, so we checked the location for a later visit), but they purchased two items including nail clippers. We then viewed the "Hanabusa Itcho" exhibition at the Suntory Museum of Art (here the guide also viewed the exhibition thanks to the guests' kindness; there was no senior discount, but showing the Mori Art Museum ticket gave a 100-yen discount) and stayed for about 20 minutes.

Since the guests kindly covered the taxi fares and also purchased the guide's admission ticket, and this felt like too much, the guide gave the guests several traditional Japanese craft postcards sold at the museum gift shop (two of which featured Hanabusa Itcho's paintings) as a small gift, which they were delighted to receive.

Finally, the guide led the guests to the last museum, "21_21 DESIGN SIGHT," introduced recommended buildings in the city, and took photos together (on the condition that personal names would never be made public) before parting ways. The guests were also interested in textiles, and I hope they came to know so many wonderful aspects of Japan — vintage kimono, made-in-Japan woodworking knives, and more — and will spread the word back home!

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Tour Report by Tachi

Hi! I’m a local guide in Tokyo and have been working as a licensed tour guide for almost 10 years. I love helping guests discover the “real Japan” beyond the guidebooks. I enjoy showing guests both famous sights and places that many tourists miss. My tours are based on your interests and can include not only famous sightseeing spots, but also local neighborhoods, culture, history, and everyday life in Japan. I also help guests enjoy Japanese cultural activities and make communication easier. If you’d like vegan or gluten-free meals, let me help you find suitable restaurants in Tokyo. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please feel free to let me know in advance. I look forward to showing you around Tokyo!