Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Noripy

Title: What's a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were first-time visitors to Japan from North America. Their current home is a place they moved to after retirement for the climate, having previously lived in other parts of North America. They had planned a trip to Japan four years earlier but had to cancel due to COVID. This time, after several days of sightseeing in Tokyo, they were going to spend about two weeks traveling around southwestern Japan by cruise ship.

For this tour, since they had not specified their preferred destinations in advance, I had planned a standard course. However, when we met, it became clear that they had various interests and places they wished to visit in Tokyo, based on information provided by friends and family. I adjusted the itinerary as much as possible to accommodate their wishes.

First, in response to their wish to see cherry blossoms, we headed to Shinjuku Gyoen. The double-flowered cherry blossoms were still in full bloom, and together with the azaleas, one of the guests was very pleased, saying, "Thank you so much for bringing me here."

We then got off near Shinjuku Station and enjoyed the now world-famous 3D cat video billboard, after which we walked to Kabukicho and I guided them to the Godzilla Head and Golden Gai. They took many photos.

At Meiji Jingu, which was their first shrine visit, they experienced the purification fountain, worship, and the omikuji fortunes they had been interested in. At our next stop, the Imperial Palace, we walked from Nijubashi Bridge toward Tokyo Station, and then had lunch at the Shin-Marunouchi Building. Because one of the guests has a seafood allergy, we went to a tonkatsu restaurant they had requested, where they enjoyed hire-katsu and chicken katsu and were satisfied.

After that, we skipped Asakusa, which is near Kappabashi that they would visit the following day, and headed to Ginza. One of the guests had a strong interest in the Art Aquarium at Ginza Mitsukoshi, and although the time was short, they were able to view it. Both of the guests seemed very satisfied. Before leaving the department store, they also looked at the basement food hall, and then headed from the 4-chome intersection to Uniqlo. They had been asked to shop at Uniqlo by a member of their group, so I introduced them to the flagship Ginza Uniqlo. Leaving the actual shopping for another day, they got into the vehicle waiting right in front and headed to Shibuya.

We disbanded the vehicle upon getting off in Shibuya, and from there we continued on foot. The guests experienced actually crossing the scramble intersection, and I introduced them to the Hachiko statue and Pepper, the popular robot at the robot cafe in FUKURAS. From there, I walked about five minutes to deliver them to their accommodation and said goodbye.

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Tour Report by Noripy

Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!