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Offered languages
- English
Have you ever visited a Japanese shrine unsure where to stand, how to pray, or what anything meant? On this 90-minute walk, a Japanese guide who grew up with shrine culture shows you Meiji Jingu, Tokyo's most important Shinto shrine, the way locals experience it.
Pass under the first torii gate and learn how to bow before entering sacred ground. Walk through a forest of 100,000 trees planted by volunteers a century ago, and find out why sake and French wine barrels stand side by side. In the quiet Inner Garden, see Kiyomasa's Well, a spring said to have flowed for 400 years.
At the main shrine, it's your turn: purify at the water basin and pray the Shinto way (bow twice, clap twice, bow once) with your guide beside you. Write a wish on an ema plaque, learn how to choose an omamori charm, and hear how locals use the shrine for New Year visits and weddings.
The tour ends at Harajuku Station, steps from Takeshita Street.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Please meet us at the West Exit of Harajuku Station. After your booking is confirmed, we will create a WhatsApp group including you and your guide. This will make it easy to communicate with your guide and ensure a smooth meeting on the day of the tour.
Itinerary
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1Meijijingu Gaien
Meet your local guide at Harajuku Station and pass under the first torii gate together. Your guide shows you how to bow before entering sacred ground, then leads you along the gravel path through a forest of about 100,000 trees planted by 110,000 volunteers a century ago, sharing what Shinto, Japan's indigenous faith, really is.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Meiji Shrine Imperial Garden
Step into the quiet garden once arranged for Empress Shoken. See Kiyomasa's Well, a spring said to have flowed for 400 years, the iris garden, and the small pier where the Empress went fishing. The garden admission fee (¥500 per person) is payable in cash at the garden gate.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3Meiji Jingu Shrine
At the main shrine, it's your turn. Purify your hands and mouth at the water basin, then pray the Shinto way — bow twice, clap twice, and bow once more — with your guide right beside you. Write your wish on an ema plaque, learn how to choose an omamori charm, and hear how locals use the shrine for New Year visits, weddings, and blessings for children.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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