Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Toru

What's a Private Anime-Themed Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Akihabara, Shibuya, and a Costume Photo Shoot

1. The Tour and the Guests' Reactions

(1) Anime Costume Photo Shoot The guests were a group visiting from Europe. In advance, they had expressed via email a wish to have photos taken in anime costumes, so I arranged with Studio ICHI, which offers services such as samurai photo shoots, to prepare a costume of a "Demon Slayer" character (Nezuko) and we did a photo shoot in a traditional Japanese house-style studio. The guests were delighted and took many photos in a traditional Japanese house (over 100 years old). We also went, still in costume, to nearby Ishikawajima Park (along the Sumida River), where they enjoyed a photo shoot under the cherry blossom trees.

(2) Shopping in Akihabara At TAMASHII NATIONS (the Bandai shop), they bought a figure of Yuji Itadori, the main character of "Jujutsu Kaisen," available only at that store, and at a small shop under the railway tracks they also found figures of Nobara Kugisaki and Satoru Gojo from "Jujutsu Kaisen." The guests were thrilled. Since "Jujutsu Kaisen" has finished its serialization and has become somewhat less popular in Japan, finding the figures was quite challenging. Even so, when we found the desired items and they thanked me with a beaming smile, it was truly rewarding as a guide. In particular, when I explained that the figure purchased at TAMASHII NATIONS was a store-exclusive item that could not be bought elsewhere, they looked genuinely happy.

(3) Shibuya Crossing First, I had them watch the many people crossing the intersection from a high point along the passage toward the Inokashira Line. On the opposite side of this Inokashira Line passage is the Taro Okamoto mural depicted in "Jujutsu Kaisen," and we took photos in front of it. After that, they actually crossed the intersection, then turned back to look at Shibuya 109, and when I told them that this too appears in a scene of "Jujutsu Kaisen," the guests immediately understood and had an "Aha!" moment. The guests were amazed at how so many people cross the intersection in such an orderly manner, saying it was "Amazing."

(4) Other The guests mentioned that they were tired from jet lag and wished to return to the hotel by taxi, so I guided them to the taxi stand, saw them off, and ended the tour.

(5) Guide's Impressions The guests came to Japan together as a reward for good school results, combined with a Christmas present. Seeing the smiling faces of the guests, who dedicated the whole day to an "anime day," and the excitement that filled the day was truly heartwarming and wonderful. It was a happy four hours in which I too was smiling throughout.

2. Special Notes I learned this time that there can be a time lag between the anime popular overseas and the anime currently popular in Japan, and that the selection available in Japan may not match the wishes of overseas guests. "Demon Slayer" and "Jujutsu Kaisen" are said to be very popular in Europe right now. However, in Japan, because a new "Demon Slayer" movie is scheduled to be released soon, items from the older works are no longer being sold, and since it was the timing just before the products for the next movie were released, it was hard to find a studio that could handle a shoot with the Nezuko costume. I consulted Studio ICHI, which offers a samurai costume photo shoot service, and it was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the owner, Mr. Mizuno. I am grateful for Studio ICHI's cooperation. As for the "Jujutsu Kaisen" figures, I inquired at several shops in advance, but since "Jujutsu Kaisen" has finished serialization and the boom in Japan has settled down for now, these too were in short supply and hard to find. I knew that TAMASHII NATIONS had exclusive items, but the others were difficult to locate, and I was fortunate that a small shop under the railway tracks that I visited on a whim had them in stock.

3. Notes I received notice that the guests posted a review. Please check it.

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Tour Report by Toru

Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

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