Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Middy

Title: What Is a Full-Day Private Tour from Shinjuku Through the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, and Shibuya Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

On the way from JR Shinjuku Station toward Tokyo Station, near Ochanomizu, I explained that a certain building was a medical university, and one of the guests mentioned having also worked in medicine back in North America. When asked how many years medical school takes in Japan, I answered six years plus an internship, and they said it was the same where they were from. The guests had relocated to North America. Since a medical license from their home country could not be used there, one of them had studied psychology at a university and now works mainly as a counselor for children, while another works in social services. When they spoke to each other, they used their native language.

At the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, where just a few days earlier there had been almost no color in the garden, today the peach blossoms, weeping cherry, and white cherry blossoms were in full bloom and at their best, and the guests happily took many photos. They also listened with great interest to the history of the imperial family and the Imperial Palace. We strolled slowly through the East Gardens, exited from the Hirakawa Gate, and moved from Takebashi Station to Asakusa.

For lunch, I had reserved a restaurant near Azumabashi, so we were seated without waiting. Everyone ordered what they liked and enjoyed the meal, saying it was delicious. When customers arrived, the staff called out a loud greeting of welcome, and the guests asked what it meant; they seemed to like the bright and brisk service. After lunch, we looked at the Sumida River from Azumabashi, but the cherry blossoms there had not yet opened.

At Nakamise, the guests purchased various souvenirs. One wanted to buy a T-shirt as a gift, and another wanted a white mug with "Japan" written on it. Fortunately, we found what they were looking for and were able to buy them. They listened with interest to the history of Senso-ji Temple, and mentioned that there are also indigenous beliefs in their home region. At Asakusa Shrine, we prayed together following the proper worship etiquette. On the way back toward the station along Kannon-dori, we found another souvenir shop they liked and bought a few small souvenirs, noting that it was cheaper there than at Nakamise. One of the guests also liked a haori displayed in front of a shop and purchased it.

We had originally planned to visit Meiji Shrine and Harajuku from Asakusa, but since they had shopped at a leisurely pace and were tired, we took the Ginza Line to Shibuya to see the Hachiko statue and the Shibuya crossing. They knew the American film about Hachiko starring Richard Gere and were delighted. When we boarded the Yamanote Line to return from Shibuya to Shinjuku, service was suspended due to an accident at Shinjuku. So we transferred to the Saikyo Line and, pushing through the crowded Shinjuku Station, somehow made it out to the East Exit. The 3D cat screen had many advertisements other than the cat, so we wrapped that up, took photos on Godzilla Street, passed through Omoide Yokocho, and finished the sightseeing. We walked from the West Exit to the front of the Hotel near the South Exit, where the tour ended.

The guests were tired but seemed satisfied to have visited Tokyo's representative sights. They said they would go sightseeing at Mount Fuji the next day and return home the day after.

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Tour Report by Middy

My name is Midori Katayama. I have been working as a national licensed English-speaking tour guide since 2024. I have guided group bus tours as well as FIT guests. I truly enjoy showing visitors from overseas the wonderful places in Japan and sharing our culture with them.

I live in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is located just south of Tokyo and offers great sightseeing destinations such as Yokohama, Kamakura, and Hakone. There are four people in my family—my husband, my son, and my mother. My son has already moved out and lives on his own, so now the three of us live together.

I also study tea ceremony, and I look forward to sharing Japanese culture with all of you.
Thank you very much, and I hope to see you soon.