Tokyo in One Day: Yokohama Station & Shibuya Station — Guide Masa

What Is a Private Group Tour of Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Asakusa, the Imperial Palace, Shinjuku, and Shibuya

The guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. Some of the guests had visited Japan about 20 years earlier, while for the others it was their first visit.

The group had arrived at Haneda Airport on a direct flight the previous day and traveled to their hotel by taxi.

The main purpose of this visit to Japan was a four-day cruise departing from Yokohama starting on the 5th. They wanted to enjoy some sightseeing in Japan beforehand.

They also mentioned that they were planning a day trip to Kamakura the following day.

A few things became clear only after meeting the group in person on the day: 1. Separately from me, another [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guide had been assigned a tour for part of the group departing at the same time from the same meeting point. 2. The group's representative requested that everyone be guided together as a single group with two guides, and after consulting with each other, the two guides accepted. 3. Although the group was originally intended to be larger, some of the guests were unable to join, resulting in a group tour of ten in total.

Before the tour, the representative had asked that we proceed slowly, as some members had difficulty walking, that the choice of destinations be left entirely to the guides, and that lunch would not be needed.

It was a tour under clear skies and extreme heat.

We took trains and the subway, first heading to Asakusa, which as usual was crowded with many tourists.

We started from in front of the Kaminarimon Gate. I explained the history of Sensoji Temple and the transition from Edo to Tokyo, the purpose of the five-story pagoda, what Buddhism is, and the differences between Buddhism and Shinto.

We took commemorative photos in front of the Kaminarimon Gate and strolled slowly along the Nakamise shopping street.

There were many questions, such as what Japan's major religions are, how many Buddhists there are in Japan, what other religions people follow, and how many immigrants from certain regions live in Japan.

On the way back, some of the guests wanted to buy a parasol, so we visited an umbrella shop in the shopping street, where they spent time browsing and enthusiastically negotiating prices.

From there, we moved to the Imperial Palace.

I explained the history of Edo, the transition from the Edo period to the Meiji era, the Meiji Restoration, why Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace, and why the capital moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.

There were questions such as what happened to the shogun and samurai after the Meiji Restoration, whether the current emperor of Japan holds political power, and how Japanese people feel about the next emperor.

Along the way, the guests seemed quite tired from the extreme heat, stopping frequently to rest and sitting down for short breaks even in the rest areas.

However, inside the East Gardens, they took photos enthusiastically in many spots.

Some of the guests said they really wanted to sit down somewhere and rest, so we went to a vegetarian restaurant in the Tokyo Midtown cafeteria.

Some of the guests had lunch in the restaurant, while others enjoyed a packed lunch they had brought with them on a bench in the cafeteria.

Originally we had planned to visit Meiji Shrine afterward, but since the guests did not want to walk for long, we went instead to the observation deck at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku.

Here, too, some of the guests went up to the observation deck, while others waited on the first floor, saying they had a separate plan to go to Tokyo Tower and did not want to go up.

They remarked that it made them realize just how large a city Tokyo is.

We moved on to Shibuya.

We viewed the Scramble Crossing (they did not want to walk across it) and took photos enthusiastically.

We also took photos in front of the Hachiko statue.

There was a question about why so many people gather there.

After this, we went to the Toyoko Line platform.

We had planned to part ways here, but some of the guests felt uneasy and asked to be accompanied to Yokohama Station, so I traveled with them to Yokohama Station.

There were questions and comments such as why there are no trash cans on the streets, that Tokyo's subway system is extremely well designed, and that the public restrooms are wonderful.

Finally, we parted ways at Yokohama Station.

Click here for more details: Tokyo in 1 Day from Yokohama: Private Tour, 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.