Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Noripy

What's a Full-Day Private Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, and Shibuya

The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. It was their second day in Japan. The tour day turned out to be surprisingly hot and humid for late September. I had asked them in advance to stay well hydrated, and during the tour the guest was drenched in sweat, saying they felt very thirsty, and drank more than three 500ml bottles of water. Their home region is apparently less humid than Tokyo and is fairly cool at the moment, so the heat seemed to take a toll.

The first topic began with a question from the guests: "Do you like baseball?" I replied, "Even I, who am not particularly interested in baseball, watch Major League games on TV thanks to the performances of Shohei Ohtani." It then turned out that the guests were devoted fans of a Major League team that is one of Ohtani's rivals. Apparently, when Ohtani appears as an opponent, there is booing — which just goes to show how formidable a player he is. Their hotel was near Gaienmae (close to Jingu Stadium), and they planned to buy a Japanese Chunichi Dragons baseball cap as a souvenir for a fellow baseball fan back home. When one of the guests asked, "Are the Yomiuri Giants disliked in Japan?", I explained situations such as how Hanshin Tigers fans tend to be anti-Giants, and they understood, comparing it to how "everyone except Yankees fans is thoroughly anti-Yankees."

At the Imperial Palace, the guests were moved by the beauty of the pine trees in the plaza and took many photos. After my explanation about the Emperor, they asked how Japanese people honestly feel about the current situation regarding a certain country and its people, so I offered comments on how economic policies, including tariffs, affect Japan's economic situation. During this conversation, one of the guests mentioned having once worked under a former administration and showed me a two-shot photo taken with the president at that time.

The guests were very interested in Japanese food and looked forward to lunch, but since they had already eaten sushi and tempura after arriving in Japan, they chose ramen. When I guided them to a popular ramen shop in Asakusa, there was a queue, so we gave up and went to an eatery in the Okuyama Omairimachi area. They tried omurice and katsudon, sharing half of each between them, and both were "very delicious!" according to their impressions. In Shibuya, they already knew about the Scramble Crossing but did not seem to know about the Hachiko statue. When I introduced it, the guests, who love dogs and keep one themselves, were moved by the story of the loyal dog Hachiko.

After returning to the hotel, I explained the subway route to Shinjuku, where they had reserved a yakitori dinner for the evening, and we said goodbye.

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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!