Tokyo in Half a Day: Takeshiba & Shimbashi — Guide Masa

Title: What's a Private One-Day Tour of Tokyo Like (Asakusa, Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya)? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America, both visiting Japan for the first time. This was a short trip to Japan. Until yesterday they had stayed in Tokyo, mainly visiting Disneyland among other places. From this evening they were heading to Mount Fuji, staying one night before returning to Tokyo the next day and departing from Haneda Airport that evening. It was a tour under clear skies and intense heat.

We went to Asakusa. As always, it was very crowded. I explained about "Senso-ji Temple and the history of how Edo became Tokyo," "what a five-story pagoda is," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took commemorative photos in front of Kaminarimon Gate and the five-story pagoda.

There were questions such as "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?", "What other religions do people believe in?", and "How often do people who believe in Buddhism go to temples?"

We strolled slowly through the Nakamise shopping street. One of the guests bought a hat, saying it was hot. However, it took quite a long time before a final decision was made.

We moved to Shinjuku Gyoen (there had been a request to see a Japanese garden). We took photos here and there within the Japanese garden. There was a comment: "In Japan there is so much greenery, so it feels calming. There isn't this where I'm from."

We moved to Harajuku and went to Meiji Shrine. I explained about "Shinto," "torii gates," "Emperor Meiji," "the Japanese imperial family," and "why barrels of sake and wine are displayed here." There were questions such as "What are the main religions in Japan?", "When and why did Shinto originate?", and "How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?"

We went to Shibuya. First, we took photos looking down at Scramble Square from the entrance to the Keio Inokashira Line platform, and then actually crossed the intersection. There was also a question: "Why do so many people gather here?" We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue.

There were comments and questions such as "It's so quiet inside the subway," "Japanese people are all quiet and polite," "The city is clean and there is no litter," and "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?"

After this, I saw them off at Takeshiba Station, and we parted ways.

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