Tokyo Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour — Guide Noripy

Title: What Is a Private Off-the-Beaten-Path Tokyo Tour Like for Senior Guests? A Licensed Guide's Report on Nezu, Yanaka, Asakusa, and Gotokuji

The guests were senior visitors from North America, visiting Japan for the first time. After sightseeing in Tokyo, they planned to travel to Hakone, Nikko, Kyoto, and Osaka, and then fly from Tokyo to Bali in Asia. They had arrived the previous day and taken an early-morning walk around the area near their hotel (the Kabukicho area), where the atmosphere and surroundings made it clear to them that it was a lively entertainment district. Since one of the guests had lower back pain and wished to avoid public transportation, we used a taxi through an app the guest had already downloaded to travel from the hotel to our first destination, Nezu Shrine. After getting off near Nezu Station, we found a large pharmacy nearby, where the guest bought pain relief medicine and adhesive compresses and took them right away. After a while the medicine took effect, and at the recovered guest's request we used the subway and trains for the rest of our travel. That said, we walked at a fairly slow pace and managed to get around safely to the end. At Nezu Shrine, although the azalea blossoms had already fallen, the guests admired the green trees. They took many photos of the row of torii gates and of the turtles and carp in the pond. Continuing on foot, we strolled slowly through Yanaka, seeing a finger-puppet theater display case (the theater itself was closed that day), the Yanaka shopping street, and the mud wall of Kannonji Temple. When I explained about Kannonji and mentioned its connection to the 47 Ako Ronin, the guests already had knowledge of the Chushingura story. As guests who had booked an off-the-beaten-path tour, they gave the impression of having done thorough research beforehand. At Yanaka Cemetery, we visited the grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, and at that point one guest mentioned the Hachiko monument beside a professor's grave at Aoyama Cemetery. This led to a story about crying heavily while watching the film "Hachi," and the guest showed me a photo of a dog they had once owned. Above all, the most memorable event of the tour was a brief exchange on the Ginza Line heading toward Asakusa, with three third-year junior high school students on a school trip from Sendai. The priority seats at the end of the car were empty, so the guests, all being of senior age, sat down, and it happened that these three lovely junior high school students were standing right in front of us. One of them was applying makeup while standing, and it began with a guest remarking, "About the age of my grandchildren," which led to a conversation. I interpreted while explaining the context. The guests were impressed and surprised that Japan is safe enough for children of this age to travel by train without an accompanying adult. The students seemed to enjoy the exchange as a chance to practice English. In Asakusa, before visiting Sensoji Temple, we had lunch of tendon at Sansada. They said it was delicious, but they could only eat a little due to the portion size. Our final destination was reached by going to Shinjuku and taking the Odakyu Line to Gotokuji. At the spot within the temple grounds where many beckoning cat figures are placed, the three of them took a commemorative selfie together, and after confirming their way back, we said goodbye within the temple grounds.

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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!