Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Noripy

Title: What's a Private Tokyo Day Tour Like for First-Time Visitors? A Licensed Guide's Report

It was an extremely hot day. The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. They mentioned that the heat back home was even greater than Tokyo's, yet judging by how they walked across the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace drenched in sweat while showing keen interest in the various buildings there, Tokyo's humidity seemed challenging for them.

The guests had chosen Japan as their travel destination this time because one of them wished to, and the main reason was a deep love of Japanese food. Although there are Japanese restaurants back home, they were full of anticipation that authentic Japanese cuisine eaten in Japan would be far more delicious. Their flight to Japan was with ANA, and they seemed excited about the in-flight service and the Japanese meals as well. One of the guests loved sea urchin so much they said they would happily eat it every day at every meal, and during our stroll in Tsukiji they sampled sea urchin still in the shell at the Tsukiji fish market. They were highly satisfied.

Initially, lunch during the tour was planned for the Tsukiji outer market, but the guests had already enjoyed a sushi dinner at a hotel the evening before the tour. So when I asked again about their wishes on the day, we settled on a shabu-shabu lunch. On the way to the lunch venue, they showed interest in some takoyaki we came across, but since we needed to be careful not to fill up before enjoying shabu-shabu, the takoyaki attempt was postponed to another day. At a Hida beef specialty restaurant in Ginza, they had their first shabu-shabu experience around the pot. They thoroughly enjoyed premium wagyu shabu-shabu with two dipping sauces, sesame sauce and ponzu.

While Japanese food was a major reason for their visit, they also showed strong interest at the NISSAN showroom, which we visited unexpectedly. They eagerly viewed not only the first-floor but also the second-floor exhibits, and each of them took commemorative photos while sitting in the cars. Furthermore, at Rikugien Garden, which we visited at one guest's request, another guest remarked afterward, "I thought I wouldn't be that interested in a garden for viewing greenery since I'm more of a mechanical person, but I really enjoyed it." In fact, it seemed they also greatly liked the melon cream soda they ordered at the tea house.

For the trip after lunch, since one of the guests might experience knee pain when walking for long periods, we moved to Rikugien Garden by taxi (using the guest's Uber app) at their request. The ride took about 25 minutes, but I think it gave them considerable relief from the heat.

Finally, since they planned to visit Harajuku's Takeshita Street the next day, I explained how to get there from the hotel using the subway, and we said goodbye in front of the hotel entrance.

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

Tour Report by Noripy

Hello, I’m Noripy.
I am a lively woman in my 60s who loves having fun. My charm lies in my bright and approachable personality. Drawing on over 30 years of international experience, I began working as a tour guide in 2023. I have conducted over 100 tours annually, ensuring that my clients enjoy Tokyo and its surrounding areas. I have received high praise from a wide range of customers, from teenagers to people in their 80s. I cater to solo travelers, couples, newlyweds, families, and groups of up to about 10 people. Living in the heart of the city, I actively guide tours primarily in Tokyo. In addition to being certified in English, one of my strengths is being able to communicate effectively in Spanish as well.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Tokyo!