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

Title: What Can You See on a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan for the first time. The main purpose of their visit to Japan was a 12-day cruise around Japan departing from Yokohama Port the next day, and the trip was timed with a summer holiday. After arriving at Haneda Airport two days before, they took a taxi to a hotel in Yokohama. The day before, they had strolled around the city of Yokohama. They expressed a wish to "visit as many spots as possible." It was a tour under hot and humid weather.

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide met the group at the station hotel by Tokyo Station and first headed to Asakusa. As always, there were large crowds, with many foreign tour groups and school excursion students. We started from in front of Kaminarimon Gate. I explained about "Senso-ji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what the five-story pagoda is for," "what Buddhism is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took a commemorative photo in front of Kaminarimon Gate and strolled slowly through the Nakamise shopping street. There were questions such as "What are the main religions in Japan?", "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?", and "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people follow?" There was also a question about "Do people go to the temple every week?"

We moved to the Imperial Palace and strolled through the East Gardens. There was a question, "When is the best time to see the cherry blossoms?" I explained about "the history of Edo," "the history from the Edo period to the Meiji period," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "why the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo." There were questions such as "What happened to the shoguns and samurai after the Meiji Restoration?" and "Does the current Emperor of Japan hold any political authority?"

We moved to Shinjuku Gyoen. As the guests mentioned they "love Japanese gardens," we strolled slowly. They seemed to be fond of the carp in the pond.

We moved to Harajuku and headed to Meiji Shrine. I explained about "Shinto," "the torii gate," "Emperor Meiji," and "why wine barrels are displayed there." There were questions such as "What kind of teaching is Shinto?", "When did Shinto originate?", "How many shrines are there in Japan?", and "What is the difference between Buddhism and Shinto?" We also strolled along Takeshita Street and Cat Street. There was a comment, "We have a dog at home, and we wanted to try visiting a cat cafe."

We went to Shibuya. We walked across the scramble crossing and took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. There were questions and comments such as "Why are there no trash cans in the streets?" and "I think the Tokyo subway is very well made." We saw them off at the Shonan-Shinjuku Line platform at Shibuya Station and 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.