Group tour report - Fantastic private tours in Japan

Category: Group tour report

A volunteer guided tour of the beautiful Japanese apricot garden and Lucky Cat Temple on a calm spring day

Posted on 2025年2月23日2025年2月24日 by japan flower tour home

Yesterday, I guided the people who are participating in JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) course to Hanegi Park in Setagaya and Gotokuji Temple, famous for its maneki-neko (beckoning cat). Japaanese apricot or ume blossoms are less well known than cherry blossoms, and there are few opportunities to see them overseas, but when JICA recruited participants for the tour, over 20 people applied, and the tour was divided into five groups. I was in charge of one of the groups and guided four people. The four people were from Vietnam, Egypt, and two from Kyrgyzstan, and most of them had never seen ume blossoms before.

In the ume plum garden, I tried to explain the history of ume blossoms, their develoipment from wild one, their fragrance, and how to enjoy the differences between the various varieties, so that they could learn as enjoyably as possible.

And since it was February 22nd, Cat Day in Japan, Gotokuji Temple was crowded with many people. Recently, the temple has become popular with foreigners, thanks to the cuteness of its maneki-neko (beckoning cat), and I explained the story behind how this temple became a maneki-neko temple, how it is different from a normal maneki-neko (it has its right paw raised, but it does not have a gold coin, so it is not directly inviting money), and how to properly handle maneki-neko. I also told the visitors not to immediately place the cat in the temple grounds after buying it, but to take it home with them and to be sure to return with it when their wish is granted, and we all prayed for their return to Japan and to this temple.

I have learned a lot from these tour guides, who are mostly volunteers, and I hope to be able to combine them well with regular tour guides and become a guide who can handle a wide range of needs. Most of the photos were taken during the site inspection.

Challenge to solve agricultural problems with cutting-edge technology

Posted on 2025年2月6日2025年2月6日 by japan flower tour home

Yesterday, I was offered a task as an interpreter with a study tour of the facility and a workshop for participants from Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Tonga who visited NTT central training center, which is working to technically solve agricultural challenges by applying Japan’s cutting-edge communication and AI technology.

I usually have many opportunities to interpret for training in the agricultural field, but I was also interested in the efforts to solve agricultural problems such as shortages of labor and successors, market price fluctuations, and rising transportation costs from the perspective of the uniqueness of agriculture and common issues with other industries from the perspective of the latest technology such as DX and GX, and I learned a lot. NTT’s training facility in Chofu has various research facilities and exhibition demonstration facilities, including a surprisingly authentic experimental greenhouse, and it was a fun experience.

Let’s learn kanji, Japanese character, and get to know Japanese culture better with Meiji shrine tour

Posted on 2025年1月26日2025年2月1日 by japan flower tour home

I participated as a volunteer member in a study group held for deepening the understanding of Japanese culture of trainees staying in Japan invited by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The study event was organized by the English group of the Tokyo city guide club (TCGC), of which I am also a member, and they do various things using English for people visiting Japan.

First, participants were asked to choose a kanji to try calligraphy, and under the guidance of a calligraphy expert, with supporters’ help like me, they experienced the difficulty and fun of calligraphy.

After that, we enjoyed some short game including picture matching cards that showed the origins of kanji characters, and then we went to Meiji Shrine with our guide.

JICA calligraphy event, Meiji shrie excursion JICA書道体験明治神宮ツアー

In January, Meiji Shrine displayed works that won prizes in calligraphy contests for elementary and junior high school students from all over the country, and participants deepened their understanding of kanji and the Japanese language by viewing them and thinking about the meanings of poems of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

One day culture tour in Tokyo operated by JICA

Posted on 2025年1月19日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

One-day cultural excursion

Yesterday, I guided the JICA trainees to Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji Temple as part of their cultural lecture in Tokyo. This training course is designed to learn about digital transformation technology, the advanced technology in agriculture and rural areas, and I was in charge of the cultural training part as part of the training that was staying in Japan for about four weeks. The trainees were 11 people from eight countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and I explained to them about the religious matters including our tolerance that underlies Japanese culture and the modernization of Japan, to people with different cultural and social backgrounds.

However, I tried to make it a relaxed atmosphere between the daily lectures without making it too formal. Due to the training budget, it was a little difficult for the 11 trainees, such as traveling by public transportation and having lunch at a tempura chain restaurant that was reasonably priced but be not accept reservations (it took longer time than expected), but I think they were able to experience one side of Tokyo life, including these slightly inconvenient aspects. The participants walked more than 15,000 steps in one day, and as some of them are not used to walking much, they seemed a little tired, but I believe they enjoyed their day in Tokyo.

Offering the best experience for cruise ship guests visiting Tokyo

Posted on 2024年10月5日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

Yesterday and the day before, I was assigned a task work for the first time since spring, showing guests who came to Japan on a cruise ship around Tokyo’s tourist spots and taking them to the airport after disembarking. The cruise ship I assigned this time crossed the Pacific Ocean from Alaska and arrived in Otaru about four days ago, then docked in Tokyo. It was a ship with many seniors and elegant persons on board, and children were not allowed on board.

Many of the passengers were visiting Tokyo for the first time, so I took them on a bus ride through the city center, explaining the popular tourists’ spots such as Tokyo Tower or the State Guest House that could be seen from the window of coach, and guiding them the Imperial Palace and the Skytree.

I usually guide small families and groups on custom-made itineraries using public transportation such as the subway, but it was quite a challenge to explain the surrounding scenery from the bus window one after another to about 30 customers, and to guide them so that they don’t get lost in the crowded the Skytree and Solamachi shopping town. I also walked slowly, being considerate of senior passengers, and walked shorter distances than usual, so I thought my legs wouldn’t get too tired, but standing and sitting on the bus and talking to face to customers seemed to put a lot of strain on my legs, and yesterday my legs were so tired I had to give them a massage in the bathtub long time.

Still, I completed the whole trip without any passengers getting lost, and when we got off the bus, everyone was smiling and I even received a small tip, so I guess it was all good.

Of course, there are many small things I could have done better, and I need to improve one by one.