Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide Noripy

Title: What Is a Private Family Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Meiji Shrine, Takeshita Street, Shibuya and Shiba

The guests were a group visiting from North America. They set off for Japan at the very start of the summer holiday and arrived full of great expectations for their trip. The first memorable discovery of this tour came near the garden exit of the Hotel along the Kanda River, where the guests noticed a staircase just outside the exit. Earlier that morning, when they had gone outside the Hotel to buy breakfast before meeting me, they had not been aware of that exit and had climbed a steep staircase set outside the Hotel grounds instead.

Throughout the tour, one of the guests, who loved matcha and sushi and was very fond of Japan and full of curiosity, enlivened the tour with many questions, insights, and enthusiastic actions. Interestingly, having apparently been told in advance that one should be quiet on Japanese subways and trains, this guest stayed so calm and considerate that I almost felt bad about it, even lowering their voice to a whisper when speaking.

At Meiji Shrine, the guests experienced their first-ever visit to a Shinto shrine. While some of the guests spent time eagerly choosing souvenirs at the gift shop, another guest bought a wagashi-style jelly and sampled it alone on a bench, remarking that it was delicious. Next, on Takeshita Street, one of the guests visited two gashapon capsule shops in search of favorites and made a purchase. They seemed to like cute items and obtained a mascot character. They mentioned that similar items are sold at quite high prices back home. They also enjoyed muscat candy and matcha-flavored drinks. One guest strongly insisted on visiting a capybara café, but was gently told "not today" by another member of the group.

At the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, I helped take a series of photos of the whole group crossing the intersection, which they were delighted with. At Takanawa Gateway, one of the guests was thrilled to be able to ride a mobile robot. Because we ended up having lunch a bit late, after 2:00, we were fortunate that after enjoying the rooftop garden of a commercial facility, we reached a Japanese restaurant that usually has a long line but which we entered right away without waiting. What is more, we were seated in a booth by the window with a wonderful waterfront view. Ordering chirashi sushi, a tuna rice bowl, and a fried chicken set meal, the guests tasted each other's dishes and were thoroughly delighted, saying it was absolutely delicious. One of the guests enjoyed a generously poured glass of chilled sake.

After lunch, we first visited Zojoji Temple. As we were leaving, one of the guests asked me, their guide, "Wait, wasn't this the place where we could try the ladle at the water-purification basin?" In fact, I had explained earlier that many shrines and temples, like the purification basin at Meiji Shrine, had switched to methods that no longer use the ladles once used for scooping water after the experience of the pandemic, but that at the Buddhist temple we planned to visit in the afternoon, I thought I could introduce the traditional method using a ladle. The guest had remembered this clearly, and I was impressed by their memory and eagerness to learn. They had a family member record a video of themselves performing the purification using the ladle. Furthermore, when the group had guessed 150 or 500 for the number of black pine trees planted in the outer garden of the Imperial Palace, one of the guests correctly answered 2,000.

Finally, from Tokyo Station we took the Yamanote Line to Yurakucho Station, and when we moved to the platform of the Yurakucho subway line, we were already about 30 minutes past the scheduled tour time, and the guests said they could make their way back on their own without any trouble, so I said goodbye to the whole group with hugs.

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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!