Tokyo Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour — Guide Noripy

What's a Private Tokyo Cherry Blossom Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Hamarikyu, Tokyo Tower, Ginza and the Imperial Palace

The guests were visiting Japan for the first time from North America. To save time and energy, we took a taxi from the hotel in Shinagawa to our first stop, Hamarikyu Gardens. We strolled slowly, and the guests were delighted by the various kinds of cherry blossoms, rapeseed flowers, and camellias in the garden. At the teahouse on the central island, one of the guests, who had never tried real matcha before, was very curious and enjoyed a matcha set served with a traditional Japanese sweet. They seemed to love it. Throughout the tour, the guests approached everything with strong curiosity and actively enjoyed new experiences. At Tokyo Tower, they wished to go up to the observation deck, and although it was a little crowded, we climbed to the 150-meter deck and enjoyed the view of Tokyo from above.

For lunch, I guided them to a small restaurant specializing in charcoal-grilled dried fish, located right by the subway exit in Higashi-Ginza. It was actually my first time going in as well, but at a reasonable price under 1,000 yen, the food was simple yet delicious. The guests ordered a grilled horse mackerel set and a charcoal-grilled chicken set, and finished everything. They said they could not think of a meal this delicious and healthy anywhere else. They also loved the small, local-style atmosphere of the restaurant and took photos of the narrow staircase. After the meal, on the way to the Ginza 4-chome intersection, I introduced the Kabukiza Theatre and the entrance to the free kabuki introduction corner on an upper floor of the building. When we arrived at Ginza's main street, it happened to be a pedestrian paradise. One of the guests, who loves cars, went into the NISSAN showroom and took commemorative photos with a supercar. The guests were also fond of Kyukyodo.

We then continued as planned to the front of the Nijubashi Bridge at the Imperial Palace, but as the guests seemed a little tired, I asked how they would like to spend the rest of the time. As a result, we changed the original plan and, instead of Shinjuku Gyoen, experienced walking through the Inui Street of the Imperial Palace. We continued further to Kitanomaru Park, and the guests were soothed by the sight of people enjoying hanami under the cherry blossoms. When we passed by the Nippon Budokan and I mentioned the Beatles, one of the guests shared a memory that the first record they were ever bought was the Beatles' "She Loves You," and that their mother had asked, "Are you sure this is really what you want?" Soon after we exited through the Tayasumon Gate, they were deeply moved by the cherry blossoms leaning toward the surface of the moat, and took many photos. Blessed with fine weather, it became a tour full of cherry blossom viewing. By chance, the guests felt a sense of connection over a shared link to a city in North America, and during the walk they shared many stories, including fond memories and about their family. The guests had no children between them, but one of the guests had a child who enjoys fishing, and they showed me a photo of that child standing next to a bluefin tuna measuring 3.6 meters that had been caught. We also enjoyed talking about many local topics, including the subway situation in a city in North America, and they told me how much it had changed compared to about 40 years ago when I had once lived there.

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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!