Tokyo in One Day: Departure: Otemachi & Shinjuku — Guide Masa

What Is a Full-Day Private Tour of Central Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guest was a person visiting Japan for the first time from Europe. Two days earlier, the guest had arrived at Narita Airport on a direct flight from Europe and traveled to the hotel by Narita Express. The previous day, the guest had strolled around Ginza.

The guest planned to stay in Japan for two weeks, spending four days in Tokyo, then traveling to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, before returning to Tokyo and heading to another country in Asia. After a four-day stay there, the guest planned to return home.

The guest's requests were: "Even if the time spent at each destination is short, I want to visit as many sightseeing spots as possible," "Lunch is not necessary," and "I am interested in history and culture, but not in shopping."

It was a somewhat chilly day for the tour.

Since the guest said, "I plan to go to Asakusa on my own another day," we first went to Tsukiji. We took our time strolling through the Tsukiji Outer Market, and I explained "the history of the Tsukiji Market" and "the difference between the Tsukiji Market and the Toyosu Market." Although it was a market closure day, there was quite a crowd. The guest asked, "Is it always this crowded?"

We moved on to the Imperial Palace. I explained "about the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "the current challenges facing the Imperial Family." The guest said, "The pine trees are beautiful, and I really like them," and also asked questions such as "Does the Emperor really live in here?"

We moved to Harajuku. At Meiji Shrine, I explained "the difference between Shinto and Buddhism," and also explained "about Emperor Meiji." The guest said, "It's wonderful that there is such a green place in the middle of the city."

We moved to Shibuya, where the guest experienced the Scramble Crossing and took a commemorative photo in front of the Hachiko statue. The guest also asked, "Why are there so many people here? Are they mostly Japanese, or mostly travelers?"

We then moved to Shinjuku. We walked briskly through Shinjuku Golden Gai (all the shops were closed), Kabukicho, and Omoide Yokocho. The guest said, "This has a different atmosphere from other parts of Tokyo."

The guest commented, "There are so many people absolutely everywhere," "A lot of tourists come to Europe too, but not to this extent," and asked, "Isn't everyone troubled by the sheer number of tourists?" The guest also made comments such as "The city is clean. There is no litter on the ground," "There are no trash cans in the streets," "There are no homeless people to be seen," and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant."

I saw the guest off at Otemachi Station, near the hotel, and 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.