January 2013
Guide: Michiyo Chida and Setsuko Kawaguchi
Route: Day 1: Harajuku – Shibuya – Asakusa – Hama Rikyu Garden; Day 2: Kamakura – Tokyo Tower – Odaiba (onsen); Day 3: Tsukiji – Ryogoku – Fuchu (classic concert); and Day 4: Imperial Palace – Ginza – Ueno

Dear TFG,

Regrettably it is time for me to leave Tokyo.
Although I have travelled widely in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, this was my first trip to Japan. Even when travelling alone in the past, I have fared well, but my time in Tokyo surpasses those earlier travels and exceeded all my expectations due to the deep knowledge, wisdom and professionalism of Mrs. Michiyo Chida and Mrs. Setsuko Kawaguchi. They enriched my time in Tokyo immeasurably and led me to start thinking of when I can return – even before I have left.

I think your organization is marvellous – and very clever too – because these ladies have been such outstanding ambassadors for Japan and her people that I know that I will return. My return will be primarily because of the warm guidance that Michiyo and Setsuko have imparted during my short stay. Their insight into my needs showed great wisdom and intelligence.

Thank you for your help – and in particular I thank you for allowing me to share my time in Tokyo with these two lovely, clever, hard working ladies. As the photographs show, my time with them was marvellous.

Sincerely,

Judi from Melbourne

September 2012
Guide: Mami Oishi
Route: Kudanshita – Tokyo Metropolitan Goverment building – Ebisu – Asakusa – Ryogoku (Sumo tournament)

I contacted TFG website for a guide before I visited Tokyo in September, with my daughter Laura and her friend Kath.

Mami was assigned as our guide for the day, and she met us as planned at our hotel early morning, to have a full day with us, showing us around your lovely city.

Mami was an absolute gem, just like all the other guides, it seems, reading the testimonials here; she took us to Asakusa, to the Government Metropolitan towers, and to the sumo wrestling championships at Ryoken, which she enjoyed as much as us- seeing her favourite wrestler, and telling us all about the rituals and customs of sumo wrestling- that was a great experience.

She showed us how to navigate the metro system, which proved invaluable to us for the rest of our stay in Tokyo. She gave us some help with the itinenery that we had for the rest of our stay, too.

It was so nice to have someone to talk about Japanese culture and way of life, and I would recommend TFG, and Mami in particular, for anyone planning a visit to Tokyo.

Thank you, TFG, and especially Mami – a lovely lady.

Dave from United Kingdom

July 2012
Guide: Katsue Shinomiya
Route: Day 1: Ameyoko, Ueno Park, Okonomiyaki lunch, Asakusa; Day 2:　Imperial Palace, Ryogoku, lunch at Hananomai, Edo-Tokyo Museum

I went to Japan in July and I was lucky enuogh to hearabout TFG and the service you are offering. So I apply for a guide for 2 different days. Katsue Shinomiya was volunteer to guide me in Tokyo. I absolutely have no regret.

Before going to Japan, I was first in contact with your staff telling me to wait for a guide, and after Katsue-san was volunteer, he still contact me to see if everything was ok. With Katsue-san, we exchanged like 10-15 mails to organize our 2 days together. Through those mails, Katsue-san was perfectly able to understand what I wanted to see.

For my first day, I asked to go to Ueno and Asakusa. She was a precious help to explain me about Tokyo subway, where to get meals, an many others practical informations. We went to Ueno, one week after a baby panda was born, so there where lot of decorations with pandas. I got lot of explanations about shrines, history and others subjects.

Then we went to Asakusa, from where we can see some famous buildings, and we went trough the gate to go to the shrine. There you can feel old Japan, it was amazing. In the company of Katsue-san, the time flied so fast it was already the end of the day.

We communicated by mail again to organize the second day, and unluckily I had to change the meeting point, but Katsue-san was very flexible, I’m really thankfull to her.

For this second day, I wanted to visit the Imperial Palace, where the Emperor of Japan lives. I didn’t realize it was so huge, and we had a long walk in the heat of summer, but she never complained and was always smiling. For lunch she took me in a “Sumo restaurant” – Hananomai. As tourist I would never have been there alone, but it is a place to see! Then we went to the Edo-Tokyo Museum.

I know it is late to write this message, but I really want to thank TFG and Katsue-san for their kindness. I hope this small message will convince people to take contact with you, so that they won’t miss such the opportunitiy to discover Tokyo in compagny of wonderful people.

I will definitively come back to Japan, and will take contact with you again.

Pierre

May 2012
Guide: Mami Oishi, Makiko Yamaoka, and Junko Murakami
Route: Day 1 Ginza; Day 2 Asakusa – Ryogoku; Day 3 Mt. Takao – Shimbashi; Day 4 Harajuku – Shibuya – Shinjuku

I really had a great time there and I am sure that my first contact would have been very different without your help and guindance! I am sincerely gratefull. You 3 are excelent guides, with great knowledge of the places . And always available to guide me by e-mail with practical information about transportations, food and whatever I needed.

I would like to sincerly thank you. I strongly recomend your service for anyone who is planning to visit Tokyo.

January 2010
Guide: Katsue Shinomiya; Noriko Murakami
Route: (Day 1) Shinjuku – Ginza – Asakusa – Akihabara; (Day 2) Sinjuku – Harajuku – Gaiennmae – Kokyo – Odaiba; (Day 3) Tokyo Daibutsu – Ikebukuro – Ryogoku

We my family had a great time in japan. we (rafael, Clelia and Tato) have done a wonderful trip to Japan in January 25-2010
we are not descendants of Japanese but we had a curiosity to know a developed and organized country. were delighted with this country. but I confess that what made the difference was to have the support of the guides Katsue and Noriko. … They are wonderful people, and we particularly like being able to be with them.
We would like to congratulate the “free guide” service. especially Katsue and Noriko.

Clelia, Rafael & Tato

January 2010
Guide: Masako Shimada
Route:　Ryogoku – Tsukiji – Kabukiza – Omotesando; Takasago Sumo stable – Dressing up like a Maiko

Hello,

I truly enjoyed having Masako Shimada as my tour guide. She took me everywhere I wanted to go. She also gave me suggestions for things to do that I would not have thought of. It was great having a guide who genuinely enjoyed what she does.

My favorite part of my trip was going to see a sumo wrestling practice and dressing up like a maiko. It was helpful having a guide to set these up for me as the language barrier would have made it difficult for me to do on my own.

I hope to bring my parents to Tokyo within the next few years. I will certainly use this service again.

Sincerely,
Julie

May, 2008
Guide: Kuniko Yanagi
Route: Ekouin (Ryogoku) – Edo Tokyo Museum – Chanko Lunch – Sumo Stable – Dinner at Izakaya

…for a wonderful day spent in the company of Kuniko, one of your voluntary guides. We had an absolutely fabulous time visiting the Edo museum, a hidden little shrine-cum-cemetery and then watching the sumo match. Wow, it was fascinating and amazing and I learnt a lot about this centuries old wrestling sport. Kuniko was a delight and taught me a lot. We also tried the chanko, the sumo’s national dish, but fortunately didn’t quite expand as much…

Well done and congratulations to your organization. It makes it all so much more personal and fascinating. See you soon again I hope.