Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day — Guide kazu

Title: What Is a Private Walking Tour of Tokyo Like When Guests Aren't Reached in Advance? A Licensed Guide's Report

Before the tour day, I was unable to reach the guests directly, and the situation unfolded as follows:

1. After confirmation, I sent the guests a confirmation email (date/time, meeting point, and the route for the day) → the travel agency replied asking whether a guide had been assigned. 2. I informed [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) that no email had arrived from the guests, and I sent a confirmation email → the travel agency again replied, saying that since the guests were elderly, the proposed route would be fine. 3. After that, no email came from the guests, so three days before the tour I again emailed [Japan Guide Agency](https://www.j-g-a.org/) to report that I still could not reach the guests → the travel agency once more sent me a phone number for the guests (this number was different from the phone number listed in the guests' confirmed information).

In the end, I was unable to make direct contact with the guests before the tour day (I could not confirm the date/time, meeting point, or the route for the day).

On the day (today's situation): – The guests were an elderly group from the Middle East, who did not speak much English, and one of them had difficulty walking after knee surgery and could only walk slowly with frequent rests. – After walking from the Hotel to Shinjuku Station (about 500 m), there was already considerable fatigue. As we headed to Shinjuku Station to take public transportation, I was asked, "Isn't this tour by bus?" and at the ticket machine at Shinjuku Station, I was again asked, "Doesn't this tour include transportation fares?" At this point I was on the phone confirming things with the local travel agency. – Somehow, we managed to complete the four locations proposed by email (the guests had brought a printout of the email from the local travel company and the review site, which also included the proposed route for the day → given the walking condition I considered changing part of it, but we decided to follow the proposed route).

Because of the slow pace, by the time we finished in Asakusa we were an hour over schedule. Since the guests could not return on their own, after leaving Shinjuku Station I accompanied them partway until they could recognize the Hotel, and in the end we ran about an hour and a half over.

Because I could not contact the guests beforehand, I did not learn about their situation (difficulty walking) until the day itself.

Also, as I have experienced on several occasions before, there are guests who do not understand what this tour involves. Please make sure guests are clearly informed that this is a walking tour, and that it uses public transportation rather than a bus or taxi.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by kazu

Hello ! My name is Kazuo Inoue, please call me ,”kazu”.
I started guide business in 2016, 8 years ago . So I have a lot of experience as a guide .
Also I have joined Tokyo city guide club ,specialising in Asakusa, Meiji shrine,Imperial Palace.
I have much of knowledge of Tokyo , especially history. I am a specialist of Tokyo.
I can guide not only main sightseeing spots , but also Tokyo off the beaten path ,
like Nezu Yanaka, Shibamata , the surbuarb of Tokyo.
( the photo is the ring of the Sumo-stadium in Ryogoku ,Tokyo)

I am looking forward to seeing you. kazu