Tokyo in One Day: Akasaka-mitsuke & Meiji-jingumae — 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 from North America. The guests were on a trip that combined a vacation with scouting sightseeing destinations. This was an 8-day trip. They had arrived at Haneda Airport a few days earlier, then traveled around the Izu Peninsula and Hakone before arriving in Tokyo the previous night. They planned a day trip to Nikko the next day, and today they wished to visit the main highlights within Tokyo. They also expressed a strong wish to enjoy Japanese cuisine somewhere during the day.

It was a tour under intense heat, and the guests remarked that it does not get this hot back home.

First, we headed to Asakusa. As always, it was crowded with many tourists. I explained "The history of Asakusa and Senso-ji Temple" and "The history of Edo and Tokyo." After that, we set off from in front of the Kaminarimon Gate. I explained "What is the purpose of the five-story pagoda?", "What is Buddhism?", and "The difference between Buddhism and Shinto." We took commemorative photos in front of the Kaminarimon Gate and the five-story pagoda.

We strolled leisurely through the Nakamise shopping street. There were questions such as "How many Buddhists are there in Japan?", "Besides Buddhism, what other religions do people follow?", and "Are there Christians in Japan?"

On the way back, we found a "Micro Pig Café," and at the request of one of the guests, we stopped in.

Next, we went to the Yanaka-Nezu-Sendagi area. We strolled through Yanaka Ginza, where the guests bought and tasted matcha ice cream. They said it gave them a sense of what old Tokyo was like.

From here, we moved to Shinjuku Gyoen. I explained "The origins and history of Shinjuku Gyoen" and "What it looks like during the cherry blossom season." The guests remarked that Japanese gardens truly are wonderful.

On the way back to the station, we found a "Marugame Seimen" udon restaurant, and the guests wanted to try it. They ordered a large serving of "kamaage udon" and finished it all.

We then moved to Harajuku. First, we visited Meiji Shrine. I explained "About Shinto," "About torii gates," "About Emperor Meiji," "Why are sake barrels displayed here?", and "Why are wine barrels displayed here?" There were questions such as "How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?"

We rested for a while at the café terrace near Meiji Shrine.

The guests mentioned that they had a dinner gathering in the evening that would also serve as a meeting, so we headed back from here. They also commented that Tokyo felt like a clean and safe city, and asked "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?" and remarked that they saw no homeless people.

I saw the guests off at Akasaka-mitsuke Station, where 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.