Tokyo in Half a Day: Kyobashi Station & Shibuya Station — Guide Masa

What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. This was a 12-day trip to Japan. After arriving at Haneda Airport, they went straight to the Kansai region, touring Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara, and arrived in Tokyo yesterday. After this, they planned to stay in Tokyo for a few more days before returning home. Both of them were big fans of Japan.

Under cloudy skies, unlike the previous days, the first half of the tour was in weather that did not feel too hot, but the latter half was hit by intense heat.

First, we went to the Imperial Palace. I explained about "the history of Edo," "the history from the Edo period to the Meiji era," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "why the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo." There were questions such as "What happened to the shoguns and samurai after the Meiji Restoration?", "Does the current Emperor of Japan have political authority?", and "Who will be the next Emperor?"

We moved to Tokyo Tower. We went up to the main deck and walked around inside. Unfortunately, we were not able to see Mount Fuji. The comments were, "There really are so many tall buildings," and "I now understand well that Tokyo is a vast, sprawling city."

Because of the extreme heat, we took a break at a café along the way.

After this, we moved to Shinjuku Gyoen (there was a request to "see a Japanese garden"). Inside the Japanese garden, they took photos in many places. The comments were, "Japan has so much greenery, so it feels calming," and "Japanese gardens are truly relaxing."

We moved to the west exit of Shinjuku and strolled through the Kabukicho area.

Then to Shibuya. First, we took photos looking down at Scramble Square from the entrance of the Keio Inokashira Line platform, and then actually crossed the intersection. There was also a question, "Why do so many people gather here?" There were comments and questions such as "It is so quiet inside the subway," "Japanese people are all quiet and polite," "The streets are clean and there is no litter," and "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?"

There was a request to "stroll around Shibuya at a leisurely pace after this." We parted ways at Shibuya Station.

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.