Lonely Planet Experiences Private Tokyo Tour: Get in the Spirit: Tokyo’s Temples & Shrines
Tokyo, Japan
From USD 75.21
Office phone number: +81 (0) 50-5532-8918
Lonely Planet Experiences Private Tokyo Tour: Get in the Spirit: Tokyo’s Temples & Shrines
Tokyo, Japan
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Through a visit to a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine, you will gain a fascinating insight into the two dominant religions of Japan. After an enlightening experience, which will include witnessing the famous Goma fire ritual, we’ll cool off at a traditional garden. If you want a deeper understanding of the role of religion and ritual in Japanese culture, this is a private tour you won’t want to miss.
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Highlights
- Attend a Buddhist fire ceremony
- Visit a famous shrine with close ties to the sumo wrestling world
- Take a stroll through an elegant, beautifully manicured Japanese garden
- Discover the differences between Japan’s two primary religions
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Monzen-Nakacho Station, exit 5, in front of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ bank. Accessible by the Tokyo Metro Tozai line and the Toei Oedo line.
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- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 8.30 AM
- Ending point:
Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station (Toei Oedo Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line).
Language: Englisih
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation by subway to Kiyosumi Garden, entrance fee to the garden, one charm or amulet souvenir.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Join us on this private off-the-beaten-track tour for an introduction to the two main religions of Japan.
To kick things off, we will start at the very active Fudo-do Temple. With the stunning temple grounds as our backdrop, we’ll learn how Shintoism and Buddhism, Japan’s two primary religions, coexist. We’ll discover the differences between the two and how they represent the whole spectrum of life.
We’ll watch a unique Buddhist ceremony known as a Goma ritual, held in the main temple hall. The ceremony involves burning a special kind of firewood as an offering to the principal deity, Fudo Myou.
When the ceremony ends, you’ll have a bit of time to explore the other floors of the temple, such as the trippy prayer corridor with 9500 miniature crystal statues. Talking is not allowed inside, so your guide will explain a bit beforehand about some of the things you can expect to see, and will answer any questions you have when we leave the temple.
From Fudo-do, we’ll stroll over to Hachiman Shrine, which is best known for its close ties to the sumo world. The shrine is said to be the birthplace of Kanjin-zumō (founded in 1684) and the origin of current, professional sumo. The grounds are adorned with sumo-related stone monuments, and when a sumo wrestler reaches the highest rank, known as yokozuna, there is a dedication ceremony done at the shrine.
Our last stop will be Kiyosumi to admire a traditional Japanese stroll garden. There has been a garden of some form here since the early 18th century but it was Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi, who shaped it into the tranquil spot we know today. Yataro rebuilt the gardens for the pleasure and enjoyment of his employees and as a place to entertain important guests.
At the end of your private tour, we can leave you to explore the rest of the gardens or we’d be happy to walk you back to the train station. Before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for hints and tips on where else to visit during your stay in Tokyo.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation by subway to Kiyosumi Garden, entrance fee to the garden, one charm or amulet souvenir.
Exclusions: Food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: We advise that you dress modestly, with shoulders covered, as we will be visiting a temple and shrine. You will have to take off your shoes before entering the temple building, so we also recommend bringing a clean pair of socks.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: This tour includes a 30-minute ritual at the temple, which should be attended in whole. Note that this is a proper ritual which the general public takes part in, and talking and any other forms of disruption are frowned upon. Please also note that we cannot guarantee seating for the ritual. You will have to take off your shoes before entering the temple building, so we recommend bringing a clean pair of socks. As this tour starts during the height of morning rush hour, we recommend you give yourself extra time for getting to the start point.
Child Policy: Children under the age of 6 are not permitted to join this tour. For children above that age, please count them as an adult.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +81 (0) 50-5532-8918
Email address: info@tokyourbanadventures.com
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