Tokyo in One Day: Higashi-ginza Station & Tokyo Station — Guide Masa

Can You Do a Private Afternoon Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Ueno, Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Shibuya

The guests were a group of four visiting Japan for the first time from Asia. They planned to stay in Japan for only one week, spending their time around the Tokyo area. On the previous two days they had visited Disneyland and DisneySea, staying at a hotel in the Maihama area. They also planned a day trip to Mount Fuji the following day. They had been able to obtain their airline tickets at a discount through a family connection.

Because of the intense summer heat, the tour included several rest breaks along the way.

We met at a hotel in Ginza and traveled from Higashi-Ginza Station to Ueno and the Tokyo National Museum. The guests asked, "Was this building repurposed from a former government office, or was it built solely as a museum?" and remarked, "In our home country, many museums are converted from former private residences."

They said they were interested in Buddhist statues and swords, and they viewed the exhibits with great enthusiasm. They also mentioned, "We are interested in the tea ceremony and would like to experience it during our stay in Tokyo."

Afterward, we moved to Harajuku. At Meiji Shrine, they commented, "This lush, green environment is wonderful." They also asked questions about the Japanese Imperial Family, and "What was the Meiji Restoration?" and "Why did the Meiji Restoration happen?"

There were also questions such as "What are the torii gates for?", "How do Buddhism and Shinto differ?", and "Why are the sake barrels displayed here?"

After taking a break and having a light meal at Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu, we strolled along Takeshita Street and Cat Street. On Takeshita Street, they purchased magnets and some clothing as souvenirs.

After that, they said, "We have heard the name Shinjuku often and would really like to go there," so we headed to Shinjuku. First, we enjoyed a panoramic view of Tokyo from the Metropolitan Government Building observation deck. They said, "This really shows how vast a city Tokyo is."

We then moved to Shibuya, crossed the scramble crossing, and took commemorative photos in front of the Hachiko statue. They asked, "Is it always this crowded?" and "Why do so many people gather here?"

They also commented, "The whole city is clean. There is no litter on the ground," "The subway is quiet, and no one is being noisy," and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant to use."

They said they were unsure how to get back to Maihama, so I saw them off at the entrance to the Keiyo Line platform at Tokyo Station before we parted ways.

Along the way, the guests also commented, "We actually wanted a tour starting at 09:00, but the agent in charge told us that only a 14:00 start could be booked. We still don't quite understand why."

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.