Tokyo in One Day: Meiji Shrine — Guide Toru

Title: What Can You See on a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Shibuya, and Meiji Shrine

The guests requested plenty of photo opportunities, so I prioritized guiding them to the most striking locations.

In Asakusa, we took photos from Azuma Bridge with the Skytree in the background. I explained that the design of the Asahi Beer headquarters resembles a beer mug, and I described the meaning of the golden monument next to it and how it came to lie horizontally. After showing the full view of Senso-ji Temple from the tourist information center, we strolled through the Kaminarimon Gate and Nakamise shopping street. The guests showed interest in Japanese chopsticks and bought several as souvenirs. Throughout the walk they took many photos and seemed very satisfied. Since one of the guests had an allergy to fish, we had wagyu beef rice bowls and wagyu sushi at a wagyu restaurant on Kannon-dori, and everyone was amazed by how delicious the wagyu was.

As the temperature rose to 27 degrees that day and the guests seemed tired from jet lag, we enjoyed a slow-paced walk around the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens while staying hydrated.

At Meiji Shrine, the guests were moved by the forest space in the middle of the city. When I explained that all the trees form an artificial forest planted at the time the shrine was built, yet now blend in naturally, they said they could understand the Japanese people's respect for nature.

On Takeshita Street, they enjoyed the atmosphere, including eating crepes while walking, but they were surprised that it was even more crowded than the Nakamise street at Senso-ji.

In Shibuya, they first viewed the scramble crossing from an elevated position and then crossed it themselves. Before crossing, they seemed anxious, saying things like "I'm worried about bumping into people" and "I might get lost in such a big crowd," but once they crossed they enjoyed it, repeatedly exclaiming "Amazing" and "Great."

Since the guests seemed tired from jet lag and a hotel issue (described below) and wished to return to their accommodation by taxi, I saw them off at the taxi stand at Shibuya Station and ended the tour.

Special notes: The guests were visiting from Africa, and a travel agency had supposedly arranged their entire itinerary. However, it turned out after their arrival in Japan (the day before the tour) that the agency had booked the hotel for the wrong dates. As a result, they had to change hotels twice the day before the tour, and ultimately the only option available was a hotel in Toyosu, which was not very convenient in terms of transportation. In addition, the reservation with Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) had been made not by the guests but by the travel agency, and the destinations for the day had also been decided solely by the agency, so the tour started with the guests unsure of where they would be visiting. In the end, they thoroughly enjoyed all the destinations and the wagyu lunch, and I was relieved that we could part ways with smiles.

This was the second time I guided guests visiting from Africa. On the previous occasion as well, there was a guest who could not eat fish, so I was reminded that for guests visiting from Africa, it is necessary to research and prepare in advance a list of restaurants that can offer meat-based Japanese lunches (wagyu, tonkatsu, yakitori, etc.) or that can serve both seafood and meat options.

I understand that on Japan Guide Agency tours, there are cases where prior discussions with guests are conducted through a travel agency, and I have indeed coordinated tour details via an agency on other Japan Guide Agency assignments. However, in a case like this one, where I believed I was coordinating with the guests through the agency, everything was in fact being decided based on the agency contact's own opinions, and on the day of the tour it became clear that this differed from the guests' understanding, which was confusing. For that reason, though I understand it may be difficult, I would appreciate Japan Guide Agency's support in enabling direct contact with guests in advance whenever possible. Since it is the duty of a licensed guide to meet the guests' expectations, I would like to be able to understand the guests' wishes directly and thoroughly in advance so that I can respond appropriately.

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

Tour Report by Toru

Hello, I am Toru, a certified National Guide. I have been guiding since 2017, primarily in the Tokyo area, which includes Hakone, Kamakura, and Yokohama. To make your stay in Japan unforgettable, I always discuss a tour plan with my guests via email before their arrival. Please share your preferences, including the places you’d like to visit and the experiences you’d like to try during your stay in Tokyo. If this is your first visit to Japan, I’m excited to help make your time in Tokyo even more enjoyable by suggesting sample itineraries and offering travel tips.

For more information about me, please visit my profile site.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/hello-welcome-to-japan/
For your reference, please feel free to visit my blog, which features popular sightseeing spots and interesting experiences.
https://japan-cultural-traditional-experience.com/

I look forward to meeting you soon!