Tokyo Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path Tour — Guide Sam

What Is a Private Hidden-Gems Walking Tour of Yanaka and Nezu in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were a group visiting Japan. Recently, more travelers using vacation rentals and similar accommodations have requested a nearby station as the meeting point, and this time Sangenjaya Station was somewhat large, so I had to think carefully about where exactly to meet. There is a fairly spacious area on the second floor of Carrot Tower, a building directly connected to the station, so I designated this as the meeting point, and thanks to its good visibility we were able to meet up easily.

Since this was a "hidden gems" tour, the requested spots were around Nezu and Yanaka. However, both areas are a little too cramped for taking a meal break, so after guiding the group through Nezu Shrine, I took them to Ueno Park and we had a meal at a fairly spacious restaurant in Ueno. For the first time in a while, I also guided them through Yanaka Cemetery. It is a large area, and finding the graves of famous figures was a challenge, but the grave of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, arguably the most famous of all, was easy to locate, so I was able to guide them there without any trouble.

Finally, I explained how to transfer at Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro before we parted ways.

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Tour Report by Sam

Hi. My name is Masafumi Miyazaki. Please call me “Sam”. I am a government-licensed guide.
I was born in Tokyo and was raised in the suburbs of Tokyo called Tama area. When I was in university, I majored in western dramas, so I am good at playing like an actor.
I like reading, listening to the music, and walking. I belong to several walking clubs, and sometimes I guide the members around Tokyo.
One of my strengths as a guide is that I know well about kombu, Japanese kelps. In December every year, I work at a traditional kombu shop in Tsukiji Fish Market. At that shop, I learned a lot of things related to kombu or other ingredients for washoku. I can explain the different characteristics of them to you.
Also, I am familiar with Japanese flowers and plants. If you stroll around a Japanese garden with me, I am sure you will be able to enjoy beautiful flowers and unique plants in every season.
I look forward to meeting you. Thank you.