Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama by Car — Guide Noripy

What's a Private Car-Based Day Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Tsukiji, Ginza, and Shibuya

The guests were an older group visiting from North America, some of whom had visited Japan before, and one of whom had visited many years earlier during their student days and was essentially visiting Japan again for the first time in decades. The person who had arranged the itinerary in advance was not part of this trip, and since the itinerary had not been fully shared with the accompanying guest, and there was some flexibility in timing, we discussed options and arranged travel by car so they could see Tokyo's iconic buildings, primarily from the car windows.

After viewing Tokyo Tower from the car, we headed to Tsukiji Market. We strolled through the lively market for a while, and everyone enjoyed looking at the seafood on display. Since they wished to sit down and eat, I had initially planned to take them to a well-known sushi restaurant, but as it was about 20 minutes before opening, we went to a nearby alternative instead. It was a somewhat casual place with semi-outdoor tables, but we could be seated without waiting, and they ordered tuna, salmon, ikura, and tekkamaki rolls. Although they had already eaten a big breakfast, they thoroughly enjoyed the food.

On the way to Ginza, we drove past a place that held nostalgic memories — a hotel where one of the guests had stayed decades earlier, which appears to no longer exist. Since one of the guests was interested in vintage shops for jewelry, we got out near Ginza 1-chome and I guided them to a well-known secondhand luxury store. They did not make a purchase but looked around with great interest. While waiting for that store to open, we stopped by a stationery shop, where they bought cutely shaped sticky notes as souvenirs, saying such items were not sold back home. One of the guests was greatly impressed by the food floor in the basement of a department store, filming the displays on video and saying it was wonderful to be brought there. In general, the guests were all fond of good food. When we came up to the surface from the department store's underground level, Ginza's Chuo-dori had already become a weekend pedestrian paradise, and we strolled toward the Ginza 6-chome area for a while. Afterward, partly for a rest, we waited a little and I guided them to a café that could be accessed without stairs, where they enjoyed coffee and sweets.

As we left the café, the rain that had begun to fall suddenly intensified, so the Imperial Palace, which we had originally planned to visit on foot, was viewed only from the car. We then passed the Tokyo Station building and headed to Shinjuku. Although it was from the car windows, they were greatly delighted by the 3D signage, Kabukicho, and the Godzilla head. Our final stop was the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. As the rain had eased to a light drizzle, they wished to get out and experience the crossing. We also took in the view from the second-floor window of a coffee shop and visited the Hachiko statue. They remarked that it had been well worth getting out to see. From there, we set off from Tokyo toward Yokohama.

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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!