Tokyo Customized Private Tour by Car — Guide Noripy

What Is a Private Family Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace, and Asakusa

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. Before coming to Japan, they had spent a few days in Asia, and they came from there to Japan, a nearby country they had never visited. After Tokyo, they were also planning to visit Kyoto. I provided explanations in English, but only occasionally did some of the guests converse with me in English, and much of the time the guests spoke among themselves in their own language. To keep the guests comfortable, I refrained from actively interjecting in English.

At Meiji Shrine, we happened to come across a bride at a wedding ceremony, and one of the guests in particular was surprised. One of the guests was a smoker and smoked at the smoking area after visiting Meiji Shrine. While waiting, one of the guests, who had not originally intended to stop at a souvenir shop, looked into one and purchased a teapot.

For the Imperial Palace visit, we walked from Sakuradamon to Nijubashi. We tried to approach the main gate, but the guests preferred not to even walk up from the stone bridge to the main gate, so we headed to the car waiting on Hibiya Street. Each time the guests got out of the car, one of them was concerned about the distance we would walk next, so I arranged the route to minimize walking as much as possible. I offered to help take photos of the whole group together, or in pairs, but for the most part each person took selfies.

After that, the guests wished to have sushi for lunch, so I guided them to a sushi restaurant inside the Shin-Marunouchi Building. Seating a table for five would have meant a considerable wait, whereas a table for four could be seated right away, so I decided to wait outside and let the guests enjoy their sushi. There was an English menu, so there was no problem, but regarding wasabi, after confirming with the guests, I asked the staff in advance to serve it on the side of the plate. They spent about 40 minutes on the meal and seemed very satisfied. There happened to be a smoking area on the same floor, so one of the guests had a smoke after the meal.

Next, we went to Asakusa. The atmosphere among the guests had brightened a little, and they were talking and laughing in the car. However, at Asakusa, when we tried to enter the Nakamise shopping street of Senso-ji, one of the guests seemed overwhelmed by the crowds and wanted to take a back street. We managed to proceed through areas with as few people as possible. However, the guests did not enter the main hall; only one of the guests entered the main hall with me. In the end, without touring Senso-ji or its surroundings any further, we exited through the Nitenmon gate and, at a pharmacy located there, I helped the guests purchase the cosmetics and medicines they had been looking for. There was also an idea to go to Ginza Street at the end, but ultimately, out of consideration for the guest who had been overwhelmed by the crowds, we decided to return to the hotel.

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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!