Tokyo in One Day: Toranomon Hills Station & Ginza Station — Guide Masa

Can You Do a Private One-Day Sightseeing Tour of Tokyo? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Asakusa, and Ginza

The guests were a group visiting Japan from Oceania, all visiting Japan for the first time. They arrived at Haneda Airport the previous night via Singapore and took a taxi to their hotel. They mentioned that they had enjoyed Japanese cuisine within their hotel that evening.

They planned to stay in Japan for two weeks. They would spend some time in Tokyo, then travel to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Naoshima, before returning to Tokyo and heading home.

The group mentioned that they had asked people who had traveled to Japan before for recommendations on places to visit. They planned to go out to Shinjuku Golden Gai that evening.

In quite hot weather, the tour included many rest breaks.

We first visited the Tsukiji Uogashi and the Tsukiji Outer Market. I explained about "Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple," "the history of Tsukiji Market," and "the difference from Toyosu Market."

There were questions and comments such as "Why are there so many people here? Is it always like this?" and "It seems like there are a lot of tourists." We purchased and sampled "tuna sashimi" and "grilled salt shrimp."

We moved on to Asakusa. The group was surprised by the crowds along the Nakamise shopping street. I explained about "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo" and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto." There were questions such as "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?"

We moved on to the Imperial Palace. I explained about "the Edo period," "the Meiji Restoration," "the current Imperial Family," and "Gyoko-dori Avenue." There were also questions such as "Does the Emperor really live in here?" and "Can you not go inside the Imperial Palace?"

As the guests wanted to take a short break, we went to Tokyo Midtown Hibiya. Everyone ordered whatever they liked at the FOOD HALL for lunch.

From there, we walked to Ginza. The group was impressed by the basement food floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi, saying, "We've heard that Shinjuku Isetan is also wonderful, so we'd love to go there too."

There were also comments such as "The whole city is so clean. There's no litter anywhere." "The public toilets are clean and pleasant." "The subway is quiet and clean." and "Why are there no trash cans on the streets?"

As the guests wanted to be taken back to their hotel, I saw them off at Toranomon Hills 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.