Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Tachi

Title: What's a Private Car Tour of Tokyo Like on a National Holiday? A Licensed Guide's Report

Body:

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide led a private car tour of Tokyo for a group visiting from North America. The number of participants turned out to be one fewer than expected, which became clear on the day itself. Before the tour, the guests had requested the use of a vehicle they had already arranged, as well as a drop-off at their hotel. Because the tour took place on a national holiday, time was limited, so we decided to skip Meiji Shrine and instead focused on other main highlights along with a recommendation to visit the Yanesen area. Shortly before the tour, the guests contacted me with a new request to be dropped off at the Jimbocho secondhand bookstore district, so I confirmed with the driver assigned for the day whether this change was possible and then shared the information with the guests.

On the day, I confirmed the itinerary with the driver about 20 minutes before the meeting time and then successfully met the guests. Inside the vehicle, they kindly shared a variety of topics, including the recent visit of a U.S. president to Japan (they did not know of the figure skater Ilia Malinin), a story about meeting a relative working at a U.S. base camp near a Self-Defense Forces base in Zama City, and the TV drama "Shogun" (both the 1980s version and the latest version). They had arrived in Japan just two days earlier and planned to visit not only Tokyo but also Kyoto (both the city and Uji). Even though it was afternoon, the wind was a little cold, and the guests mentioned that they had struggled to prepare for the trip.

Before long, we arrived at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and I guided them there. We got back into the vehicle across from the Palace Hotel and headed to Yanesen. On the way, we passed through Akihabara, and the guests seemed surprised by the crowds, so I provided commentary as appropriate. After guiding them to Nezu Shrine and two other shrines, we walked along Hebi-michi (the "snake path") to Yanaka Ginza. One of the guests tried to buy some light snacks such as yakitori, but gave up due to the long line. However, they successfully got a "Takahashi croquette (with minced chicken)" from Kyushudo and the group enjoyed eating it together. (Since we had kept the driver waiting a while in Yanesen, I bought a croquette myself and gave it to them as a gift so they would drive comfortably.)

On the way to Asakusa, we passed through Ueno and Kappabashi with commentary as appropriate. Asakusa was less crowded than expected, so I gave a quick tour of Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori (our stay in Asakusa was within 15 minutes). The guests said they found the contrast between the three areas interesting, which was reassuring. After getting back into the vehicle across from Nitenmon, the driver kindly took us past the front of Kanda Myojin Shrine, and I provided commentary as appropriate (as anticipated). Toward the end of the tour, the guests were understandably a little tired. Looking for an interesting topic, I managed to finish telling the story of the burial mound of Taira no Masakado's head, its associated curse, and its connection to GHQ, just as we passed through Ochanomizu and arrived at the Jimbocho secondhand bookstore district five minutes before the end time. We took a photo together with the driver and parted ways with smiles.

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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!