Explore more curated experiences in Tokyo

View all Tokyo tours

Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto and Imperial System in Tokyo

Top rated
4.9
Activity provider: Japan Guide Stars
Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto and Imperial System in Tokyo
Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto and Imperial System in Tokyo 2
Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto and Imperial System in Tokyo 3
+2
more

Tour in Tokyo, taking in Meiji Jingu Ichino Torii, Meiji Jingu Consecrated Wine Barrels and Consecrated Sake Barrels. Run by Japan Guide Stars, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Meiji Jingu Ichino Torii
  • Meiji Jingu Consecrated Wine Barrels
  • Consecrated Sake Barrels
  • Big Torii
  • Runs 1.5 hours
  • English Guide

Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto and Imperial System in Tokyo: Key Facts

PriceFrom $23 per person
Duration1.5 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 1.5-hour experience from Tokyo, built around Meiji Jingu Ichino Torii, Meiji Jingu Consecrated Wine Barrels and Consecrated Sake Barrels. It is run by Japan Guide Stars, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Tokyo is the largest city on earth by metropolitan population and it is best seen as a set of neighbourhoods on the Yamanote loop line rather than one place. Asakusa has Senso-ji, the city's oldest temple, and Nakamise's shopping lane; Shibuya has the scramble crossing and Shinjuku the bars of Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho; Harajuku is Takeshita Street and Meiji Shrine's forest; Akihabara is electronics and anime; Ginza is department stores and sushi counters. Everything runs on time and the last trains are around midnight. Cash still matters in small restaurants, an IC card covers every train and bus, and tipping is not done anywhere.

The price covers English Guide and Sightseeing tour. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

Japan Guide Stars sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Japan Guide Stars before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Starting location

原宿駅

Meiji Jingu Ichino Torii

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Meiji Jingu Consecrated Wine Barrels

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Consecrated Sake Barrels

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (5 minutes)

Big Torii

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Imperial Poetry of Emperor Meiji

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Meiji Shrine

Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Free time, Shopping, Sightseeing, Walk (45 minutes)

CAFÉ Mori no Terrace

Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Shopping, Sightseeing, Walk (15 minutes)

Arrive back at

原宿駅

Detailed Itinerary

Starting location: 原宿駅

Meiji Jingu Ichino Torii: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Meiji Jingu Consecrated Wine Barrels: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Consecrated Sake Barrels: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (5 minutes)

Big Torii: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Imperial Poetry of Emperor Meiji: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Sightseeing, Walk (10 minutes)

Meiji Shrine: Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Free time, Shopping, Sightseeing, Walk (45 minutes)

CAFÉ Mori no Terrace: Break time, Photo stop, Visit, Guided tour, Shopping, Sightseeing, Walk (15 minutes)

Includes

  • English Guide
  • Sightseeing tour

Important information

Meeting point

Japan Guide Stars sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

You might also like...

Share
Main Tour Price
Starting from $23
$23
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.9/5
based on 562 reviews
Guide
5/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
Z
Zachio
September 4, 2026

Keiko was the best. Even though I was the only person, she gave me a great energetic tour. Highly recommended, she’s really knowledgeable and friendly.

Review photo 1
5
Z
Zofia
September 1, 2026

We had a great time and learned a lot from our great guide Airi. She explained a lot about the Meiji temple, but also about Japanese culture and customs. I recommend the tour to everyone who wants to learn more about Japan.

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
J
Jessica
August 24, 2026

Keiko was an amazing tour guide. We learned a lot on this tour, and with our small group the pace was perfect. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wishes to learn more about the history of Shintoism and its intersection with Buddhism. Really fascinating!

Review photo 1Review photo 2Review photo 3
5
S
Sheila
September 17, 2026

Lovely was a great guide. Knowledgeable and friendly

5
M
Miquel
September 15, 2026

Keiko was an amazing and funny guide. She explained everything in detail and good for us (Europeans) to understand the traditions and history of Japan and Meiji Shrine. Thanks a lot Keiko

5
S
Shirley
September 12, 2026

Frankie was Exceptionally Good, the wealth of knowledge made the experience with him very enjoyable. Frankie was fantastic! I encourage everyone to request Frankie as your guide. The Hunter Family Thank you Frankie. Age range 21-70 Frankie related to us all!!

5
K
Kieran
September 11, 2026

Keiko was a very informative and friendly guide. Would highly recommend this tour.

5
S
Sarah
September 7, 2026

We really enjoyed the tour with our nice guide called Kodai. It was a nice introduction to the japanese culture and history.

5
M
Michael
September 3, 2026

Keiko was an amazing guide with a lot of knowledge. She made it a great experience. Also good with kids around age of 10 plus years old

5
M
Mike
September 1, 2026

Airi was incredible. she really brought the tour to life. we appreciate her skills and time. An altogether memorable experience.

5
N
Nicole
August 21, 2026

Airi was amazing! Incredible tour and great knowledge! She was the best guide

5
J
Jasdeep
August 20, 2026

My tour guide Airi 愛理 was diligent, conscientious, detail oriented, friendly and helpful. Thank you for guiding through the shrine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Japan Guide Stars sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
Shoes off at every hall, quiet voices, and no photographs inside the halls unless a sign allows it. At a shrine, rinse hands and mouth at the basin, then bow twice, clap twice and bow once; at a temple, hands together without clapping. Dress is relaxed, but shoulders and knees covered is the courteous choice.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
English Guide, Sightseeing tour
The duration of the Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto and Imperial System in Tokyo is typically 1.5 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or late October to early December for autumn colour and the clearest skies. Contrary to most advice, October is Tokyo's wettest month (234.8 mm), not the June rainy season. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Tokyo guide.
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card and budget ¥1,000–¥1,400 a day. Do not buy a JR Pass for a Tokyo-only trip — it costs ¥50,000 and excludes Tokyo Metro and Toei entirely. Note JR East raised Tokyo fares on 14 March 2026, so Metro is now cheaper than JR on several routes. See getting around Tokyo.
Shibuya Sky releases tickets only 14 days ahead at 00:00 JST — it cannot be booked months in advance. teamLab Borderless tickets drop at 12:00 JST on the 1st of each month. Our 3-day Tokyo itinerary lists every booking deadline.
Yes — a Japanese licence or an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. 1968 Vienna Convention permits are not valid in Japan. Licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan need an official JAF translation instead. Arrange it before you fly; see the Tokyo go-kart guide.
Yes — the highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko takes about 1h 45m for ¥2,200. But manage expectations: Fuji is visible on 84% of December mornings and only 23% of July mornings, and cloud builds through the day, so go early. Details in our Mount Fuji day trip guide.
Edomae sushi (the Tokyo Bay style, where curing began as a workaround for having no refrigeration), monjayaki — a runny griddle dish unique to Tokyo with 80+ specialists on Tsukishima's Monja Street — and soba. Also worth knowing: Tsukiji Outer Market never closed; only the wholesale auction moved to Toyosu. See the Tokyo food guide.
The crossing itself takes about ninety seconds. What makes it worth an evening is one street back — Nonbei Yokocho, a lantern-lit alley of tiny bars a minute away that almost nobody who photographs the scramble walks into. Note street drinking is banned in the area 18:00–05:00 year-round, though the ordinance carries no fine. See the Shibuya Crossing guide.
Yes, some. Japan's cashless ratio reached 58% in 2025, so over 40% of payments are still cash — and card refusal is most likely at small independent izakaya, ramen ticket machines and market stalls. Tipping is not expected anywhere.
Starting from$23