This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:45 Meet at Geku
- 10:45 Visit Geku (until 12:10)
- 12:15 Lunch at Geku Sando (until 13:10)
- 13:30 Visit Naiku (until 15:00)
- 15:00 End of work
Title: What Is a Private Rainy-Day Tour of Ise Jingu Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
"Ise Jingu in the Rain"
The forecast was rain. On the other hand, even during the holiday period, Ise Jingu was surprisingly uncrowded, so I set out determined to help the guests savor it calmly and thoroughly.
The guests were visiting from Asia. They said they wanted to focus only on the "Geku" (Outer Shrine) and "Naiku" (Inner Shrine), so they were fine with skipping my suggested stops at Futamigaura and Oharai-machi.
How unusual! Even Japanese visitors short on time often see only Naiku and Oharai-machi.
To make up for it, we walked every corner of just the Geku and Naiku so the guests could fully enjoy Ise Jingu, and I too was thoroughly satisfied.
As a bonus, on the Geku approach we also shared some "abalone rice." What a treat!
The guests not only bought amulets but even purchased a kamidana household shrine to display at home. It was four hours that greatly contributed to both the shrine and the local economy!
Click here for more details: Ise Jingu Shrine Half-Day Customized Tour, Licensed Guide
Since I completely retired from my position at a railway company and started being involved in the tour guide interpreter business, I have experienced almost all types of guiding through FIT, Long Group Tours, Cruises (Shore Excursions), Incentive Tours, Special Interest Tours (Railway Travel, Pilgrimages), Familiarization Tours (Sales Promotion Tours) etc.
However, I noticed that I am not fully satisfied to only be a general guide who just manages a tour itinerary provided by tour agents/clients.
High-end guests have sometimes requested me to answer some enquiries that are actually challenging to answer for Japanese nationals. However, I appreciated those because they provided such a challenge and I felt that they wanted to understand my sense of beauty/values as a guide concerning a new culture for them.
Every time I host my guest I do my best to prepare the most appropriate information based on three travel elements (appetite, logistics, accommodation). Nevertheless, I decided to aim for higher guiding skills after I was motivated by senior guides whose guiding strategies and gestures were particularly impressive.
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