Tokyo in One Day: Asakusa Station & Ueno Station — Guide Masa

Title: What's a Full-Day Private Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Harajuku, and Shibuya

The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. It was everyone's first visit to Japan.

Two days earlier, they had arrived at Narita Airport on a direct flight and traveled by chauffeured car to a hotel in Ueno.

This time, they were on a roughly two-week trip to Japan. The main purpose was a ski trip in Myoko Kogen. After that, they planned to visit Kyoto and Osaka, and then return home after coming back to Tokyo.

Everyone loved Japanese food, and one of the guests had a fish allergy. They said they wanted to enjoy a variety of Japanese dishes together.

It was overcast, but it did not rain, so we had a tour under pleasant weather.

First, we went to Asakusa.

We passed through the Nakamise shopping street from the Kaminarimon Gate to the main hall. It was very crowded.

I explained about "Sensoji Temple and the history from Edo to Tokyo," "what a five-story pagoda is," and "the difference between Buddhism and Shinto."

There were questions such as "Do all Japanese people believe in Buddhism?" and "What kind of teaching is Buddhism?"

At the food stalls in the temple grounds, they bought and tasted takoyaki and chocolate-covered bananas.

We moved to the Imperial Palace.

I explained about "the transition from the Edo period to the Meiji period," "the Meiji Restoration," "why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace," and "an overview of the current Imperial family."

They said, "The pine trees are beautiful." There were also questions such as "Does the Emperor really live inside here?", "Who is the next Emperor?", and "What are the characteristics of a Japanese garden?"

We moved to Harajuku. At Meiji Shrine, I explained about "the Meiji Restoration," "Emperor Meiji," and "why wine barrels are displayed there."

Along the approach path, there was a display of ice sculptures, so we proceeded slowly while taking photographs.

They said, "It's wonderful that there is such a green place in the city center. It feels refreshing."

Furthermore, we strolled slowly through the crowded Takeshita Street, Cat Street, and Omotesando.

After this, we moved to Shibuya, experienced the Scramble Crossing, and took photos. We also took commemorative photos in front of the Hachiko statue.

We then went up to the rooftop of MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 and viewed the Scramble Crossing.

Here too, there was a question: "Why are there so many people? Are there many Japanese, or many tourists?"

At their request to have a late lunch since they were hungry, we went to a casual restaurant.

There were also comments such as "All Japanese people are polite," "The streets are clean and there is no litter," "Why are there no trash cans around?", "The subway seems very well made, but it's hard to understand until you get used to it," and "The public restrooms are clean and pleasant."

I saw them off at Ueno Station, ending the tour.

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.