Tokyo in Half a Day: Meiji Shrine & Shinjuku — Guide Atsushi

Title: What's a Private Tokyo Walking Tour Like from Meiji Shrine to Shinjuku? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe. Following instructions received in advance from the agent, we headed to Meiji Shrine. There I explained the differences between Shinto and Buddhism, as well as the influence Shinto has had on Japanese culture, as we walked through the grounds. While the guests were somewhat perplexed by a religious perspective completely different from that of Europe, they seemed amazed by the uniquely Japanese cultural setting, and together with a Buddhist-style wedding ceremony we happened to see on the grounds, they enjoyed the distinctive atmosphere. Next we passed through Takeshita Street on our way to Omotesando. Along with the contrast with the completely different contemporary culture compared to Meiji Shrine, the guests seemed delighted by the continuous stream of unusual sights that cannot be experienced in Europe. Since they had brought a large stroller, I tried to use elevators as much as possible at the stations along the way, but even so, there were several places with stairs where we had no choice but to carry it by hand, which was a bit challenging. After experiencing the Shibuya Crossing, I took them to Shinjuku, where I explained the boarding area and how to ride the Odakyu Romancecar they planned to use afterward, and also showed them Shinjuku landmarks such as the 3D cat advertisement and the Godzilla Head. After explaining the way back to the Hotel, I concluded the tour. A notable stop on the tour was Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in a large forested area in the heart of Tokyo, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Completed in 1920, the shrine is surrounded by an evergreen forest of some 100,000 trees donated from across Japan, offering a tranquil retreat from the surrounding city. Visitors often pass through massive torii gates and may witness traditional ceremonies, making it one of the most popular spiritual sites in the capital.

Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Tour Report by Atsushi

Hello and welcome to Tokyo!

I have been working for business with American companies for many years. I have many experiences guiding customers from around the world in Japan and taking Japanese customers to the USA and Europe.

I now have a national license as a guiding interpreter, and I want to introduce the unique gigantic city of Tokyo and the traditional Japanese culture, which is not shown in the guidebooks, to people worldwide who are interested in it. In addition, I want to introduce various Japanese foods you can enjoy only in Japan.
Unique experiences such as the Sumo Training Viewing and Tea Ceremony are optionally available.
Depending on your preference and itinerary, I can guide you in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hakone so that you can enjoy your time in Japan.