Tokyo in One Day: Kinshicho Station & Shinjuku Station — Guide Masa

What Is a Private One-Day Tokyo Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, Tsukiji, Meiji Shrine, and Shibuya

The guests were visitors from North America. This was a leisure trip to Japan. One of the guests had visited Japan on a family trip ten years earlier, while for the other it was a first visit. The previous day, they had arrived at Narita Airport via a connecting flight, then taken the Skyliner to their Hotel. In the evening they strolled around Ginza and had ramen for dinner. They planned to stay in Japan for two weeks. After spending three days in Tokyo, they intended to visit Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, then return to Tokyo before heading home. They said they planned to visit teamLab and the Imperial Palace the next day. They mentioned they wanted to enjoy a variety of Japanese cuisine. The tour took place in weather that felt like midsummer. Asakusa was very crowded. The guests asked questions such as "When was this temple built?", "Why are there so many people here?", and "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" They also asked, "What kind of teaching is Buddhism?" The guests drew an omikuji fortune and were delighted to draw "good luck." At the Tsukiji Outer Market, they eagerly looked around everywhere, purchasing and sampling bean snacks and strawberry mochi. They also tried grilled beef skewers. They commented, "For a fish market, it's beautiful and clean." They also asked, "Why are there so many people here? Is it always like this?" and "Do all these people come here to buy fish?" At Meiji Shrine, they asked questions such as "What is this torii gate for?", "What kind of teaching is Shinto?", and "How is Buddhism different from Shinto?" They also asked, "What was the power relationship between the Emperor and the Shogun?", "Do Japanese people respect the Emperor and the Imperial family?", and "Why did the Meiji Restoration happen?" We took a light meal and a break at a cafe near Meiji Shrine. We strolled along Takeshita Street. They said, "I'd like to come to a cat cafe tomorrow." Afterward, we moved on to Shibuya. At the Scramble Crossing, they commented, "Why are there so many people here?" We took photos in front of the Hachiko statue. They said they wanted to buy earphones, so we went to an electronics store. They also commented, "Everywhere in the city is orderly and clean," "It's so quiet on the subway, no one is being loud," and "I don't see any homeless people. Why is that?" They also said, "Where we come from it's also hot, but the humidity isn't as high as in Tokyo — it's dry. This humidity is tiring." Since they said they were tired and wanted to return to their Hotel, I saw them off at Shinjuku Station and we parted ways.

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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.