May 2010
Guide: Hiroko Kitagou, Yoko Takano
Route: Imperial Palace – Asakusa – Ueno (Tokyo National Museum); Tokyo Metropolitan Government building – Shinjuku Gyoen – Meiji Shrine

My husband, Alan, and I cannot say enough good things about Tokyo Free Guide. Both of the guides met us at our hotel each morning with a plan for the day.Hiroko made sure we understood how to use the subway system and without her I don’t know if we would have figured out we could ride JR lines free with our Japan Railpass.  She arranged for a bus tour for us in the area near the Imperial Palace which helped us get a better idea of our surroundings. We ate lunch near the Senjoji Temple where I had shabu-shabu for the first time and Alan had tempura. We had been reluctant to go into restaurants before this because we couldn’t read the menus but Hiroko showed us what to do and it made such a difference the rest of the trip. By spending time with Hiroko, we learned so much about Buddhist and Shinto shrines and temples. Read the rest of this entry »

October, 2007
Guide: Senichi Nagai
Route: Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo National Museum, Akihabara, Akasuka, Nakamise Dori, Sensoji Temple

Dear Tokyo Free Guide:

I would like to thank Tokyo Free Guide for the tremendous email response received from your volunteers who offered to serve as goodwill guides during our visit to Tokyo. Especially, I would like to thank Senichi Nagai, who served as our personal guide, in showing us how to navigate Tokyo’s transit system and escorting us to the venues of our choice. In every aspect, Senichi was courteous, insightful and understanding of our wishes of selected sites to visit. His warmth and friendliness was obvious from the very beginning in making us feel as though we were being personally guided by a long time friend. We are eternally grateful to Senichi and Tokyo Free Guide for making our visit to Tokyo a lifetime memory that my family and I will always cherish.

With sincerest gratitude,

Shinji Hosokawa and the family