Tokyo in One Day: Hatchobori Station & Ginza Station — Guide Masa

Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Tokyo Family Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Yanaka, Akihabara, and the Imperial Palace

The guests were a group of visitors from North America. Some of the guests were visiting Japan for the second time, while others were visiting for the first time.

They had arrived at Narita Airport a few days earlier. Until the previous day, they had stayed at Disneyland, and this morning they had moved to a hotel in central Tokyo. Tomorrow they planned to explore the western part of Tokyo as well. From the day after, they intended to travel around Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara before returning and heading home later. They said they had come to Japan because they very much wanted to show the guests Japan on this trip.

Although the sky was overcast, it was a hot and humid day for the tour. I guided using both English and Spanish.

Following their request to make the itinerary centered on the guests, I proceeded accordingly. They also mentioned that lunch would not be needed, as they would buy some snacks along the way.

At Asakusa, there were questions such as, "When was this built?", "Is it always this crowded?", "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?", and "Are there any Christians in Japan?"

They bought "strawberry candy" and "strawberry mochi" and ate them standing up. (The whole group are big fans of Japanese "mochi.")

After this, we moved to Yanaka Ginza and Nezu Shrine.

They said, "Now we understand what Tokyo looked like in the old days." At Nezu Shrine, they took photos inside the torii gates.

In the Akihabara Electric Town, the guests tried the "crane games." They also bought character figures.

Regarding maid cafés, there was a question, "What kind of place is this?"

At the Imperial Palace, we walked all the way around the Imperial Palace East Gardens.

There were questions such as, "When was Edo Castle built?", "Why did Edo Castle become the Imperial Palace?", and "Can we not go inside the Imperial Palace?"

There were also questions about, "Does the Imperial Family really live inside here?" and "Does the Emperor hold political influence?"

They bought ice cream at the shop.

After that, we moved to Ginza.

Since they wanted to look at various Japanese sweets, we strolled through a department store.

They made comments such as, "The city is clean, there is no litter on the ground, though there are few trash cans," "No one talks loudly on the trains," and "We do not see homeless people."

I saw them off at Hatchobori Station, and we parted ways.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed 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.