Tokyo in Half a Day: Ginza Station & Tsukiji Station — Guide Masa

Title: What Is a Private Full-Day Walking Tour of Asakusa, Kappabashi, and Ginza in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe, and it was their first visit to Japan.

They had arrived at Narita Airport the previous evening and taken a taxi to their Hotel. They remarked, "The taxi ride was extremely comfortable."

The previous evening, they had enjoyed shabu-shabu for dinner in Ginza.

This time, they were visiting Japan for a total of 18 days.

After spending four days in Tokyo, they planned to travel around Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima, and then depart from Kansai Airport.

They said they were looking forward to "meeting the deer" in Nara.

The tour took place in light rain.

From the Hotel, we took the Hibiya Line and went to Asakusa via Ueno Station.

Despite it being a weekday and rainy, there were large crowds.

First, we took in a panoramic view of Asakusa from the observation deck of the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center.

After that, we set off from the front of Kaminarimon Gate. I explained about "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what the five-story pagoda is for," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto."

We took commemorative photos at various spots, including Kaminarimon and in front of the five-story pagoda. We strolled slowly through the Nakamise shopping street.

There were questions such as "What are the major religions in Japan?", "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?", and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people believe in?"

There was also a question: "We see many people wearing kimono within the temple grounds—do you have to come to the temple in a kimono?"

We moved by subway from Tawaramachi to the Kappabashi Kitchenware Street.

As it was a day when many shops were closed, not all the stores were open, but about half were operating.

One of the guests loved cooking and was very keen to buy a high-quality nakiri (vegetable) knife.

After checking several shops, they finally purchased one.

We then passed through the Tsukiji Outer Market on our way to the Hamarikyu Gardens.

I explained about "the history and current state of the gardens."

They said, "Japanese gardens are wonderful. I'm so glad we came."

Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms had not yet bloomed.

We walked back to Tsukiji Station and then went to Ginza.

There were comments and questions such as "Tokyo is clean throughout the city, with no litter on the ground," "It's surprising that public restrooms everywhere are clean and free," and "There are no trash cans on the streets—why is that?"

We parted ways at Ginza 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.