Should I Take a Guided Tour in Tokyo?

1. Should I Take a Guided Tour in Tokyo? Japan is home to one of the richest, oldest, and most complex cultures in the world. If you are a first- time visitor or traveling with family, it is easy to get lost in its wonder, especially in its bustling capital -- Tokyo. Many people would opt for a tour guide for convenience, while others would choose to wing it and see what happens. Each trip to Tokyo is different, and not every journey requires professional assistance. If you are planning a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, here are a few reasons why you would need a guided tour. Make the most out of your trip. Given a limited amount of time, you, like most visitors, would want to make the most of your Japan trip. A professional, experienced tour guide will be able to help you. One of the biggest advantages of hiring a guide is convenience. You no longer have to worry about which route to take, which places to visit, where to eat, where to stay for the night, and more. You only have to sit back and let someone walk you through Tokyo.

2. Another inconvenience you have to avoid is navigating the Tokyo trains on your own. Tokyo has one of the most complex and extensive trains in the world. It has over 800 train stations in this city, and it can be confusing which train to take and where to alight. A tour guide should be able to help you make this journey a bit easier. Avoid language barriers. As much as Tokyo has thousands of tourists flocking to it every day, many of its citizens can still speak little or no English at all. This could be a problem especially when you’re shopping, ordering, asking for directions, or simply wanting to say “hello” to a local. Avoid miscommunication from language barriers with the help of a tour guide. A guide, preferably who is a native English speaker, can help translate what you want to say to locals. Many families prefer hiring one especially if their children have certain restrictions or allergies that they want to be mentioned to restaurants. You have a private photographer. Given that Japan is incredibly picturesque, especially during fall and cherry blossom season, you would want photo souvenirs of your trip. Then again, it can be hard to always ask a local or any random stranger to take photos of you and your group. You no longer have to worry about this since a professional tour guide will always be ready to take your photos anytime. It is part of their job to accommodate reasonable requests, and having awesome photos to bring home and post on your Facebook profile is one of them.

3. Find particular locations. Were you inspired to visit Tokyo because of the movie “Lost in Translation?” Did you read online about a place where you can see Japanese people wearing anime outfits or doing cosplay in the middle of the street? Are you dying to go to the famous Shibuya crossing and take a photo with Hachiko? If you want to see a particular place or visit certain attractions in Tokyo, you can opt for a customized, guided tour. A guide will be able to help plot the route for you and make sure that you finally get to experience what you just saw in movies or online. For instance, certain tour groups can bring you to the places and the actual hotel where “Lost in Translation” was filmed. They can also show you the best spots where to shop for gadgets or where to marvel at the cherry blossoms. Your family is safer. Tokyo is generally safe, but it never hurts to take extra precautions, especially when you are traveling with children or with seniors. A professional tour guide will help make sure that your kids are always safe and will not be lost, your seniors won’t get into potential slip and fall accidents, and the places you will be visiting are age-appropriate. You will also be informed if certain areas will require you to be a little bit more cautious of your surroundings.

4. For more information on the mysterious and enchanting Japanese culture, you can call Tokyo Escapes. They are a highly experienced team of American guides who would be more than happy to show the known attractions in Tokyo as well as the best places to go for families, friends, and couples. They offer customized tour packages at very affordable prices. Visit their website or call (972) 729–9475 today to learn more.