Tokyo in One Day: Otemachi Station & Shibuya Station — Guide Masa

Title: What's a One-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like After Visiting Kyoto and Hakone? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time from North America. The trip was arranged around the end of the school term. On this journey, they first stayed in Asia for a week before flying into Kansai Airport. After visiting Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hakone (they mentioned they had a hard time in Hakone due to heavy rain), they came to Tokyo. Their stay in Tokyo was just this one day, and they planned to return home from Haneda the next day.

They said, "We are enjoying all kinds of Japanese food, and we want to keep enjoying a variety of dishes right up to the end." It was a tour on a hot and humid day.

Asakusa was as crowded as ever. There were questions such as "What is the history of this temple?", "Is it always this crowded?", and "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" There were also questions like "What kind of teaching is Buddhism?"

Seeing many people in traditional kimono, they also asked, "Do Japanese people wear kimono in daily life?"

They said, "We received goshuin (temple seals) at various temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara," so here too they had their goshuin book stamped.

Since they had not been able to see Mount Fuji in Hakone, we then went to Tokyo Skytree. Unfortunately, despite the clear weather, it was hazy and Mount Fuji could not be seen. They were also surprised by the huge crowds. We went up to the observation deck and took a group commemorative photo. They said, "Now we really understand how vast Tokyo is."

After that, we went to Tokyo Midtown Hibiya for lunch, as one of the guests had a gluten allergy and a gluten-free restaurant was needed. At the "HIBIYA FOOD HALL," they commented, "It's just like a food hall in North America."

Afterwards, at the guests' request, they did some shopping on Takeshita Street. Then we moved to Shibuya.

At the scramble crossing, there were comments such as "Why are there so many people here?" and "It looks like Times Square." We took photos in front of the Hachiko statue.

There were also questions and comments such as "Not only Tokyo but all parts of Japan are orderly and clean," "Everyone is polite," "It's quiet inside the subway, and no one is being noisy," and "There are no trash cans anywhere in the city."

Finally, I saw the guests off at Otemachi 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.