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Personal prayer at Meiji Shrine!

By 明治神宮　古代祈祷ツアー　Meiji shrine ancient prayers tour
6.0 out of 10
Free cancellation available
Price is €85 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 1h 30m
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
Overview

Meiji Jingu shrine, despite being an iconic tourist attraction featuring authentic Japanese culture, can be a bit inaccessible to foreigners unfamiliar with Shinto. We are thus arranging this tour to help you make the most of Meiji Jingu and leave you with a peace of mind by guiding you through the philosophy and practices of Shinto and enjoying a personal prayer session during with you can experience the essence of Shinto.

In the personal prayer, you first write down your wishes to God for family safety, marriage, health, academic success, etc. Then you are taken to a tatami room where you can watch priests in ancient costumes purify the place with the sound of bells, a performance of Gagaku (ancient court music) on ancient instruments and flutes (a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), and a Miko (shrine maiden) dance performance. Finally, with your heart cleansed and refreshed, you receive an Ofuda, which is an amulet filled with your wishes along with the power of today's prayer.

Activity location

  • 151-0052
    • Yoyogikamizonocho
    • 151-0052, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Big Torii
    • 1 1
    • 151-8557, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Check availability

Personal prayer at Meiji Shrine!
  • Activity duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes1h 30m
    1h 30m
  • English
Language options: English
Starting time: 15:00
Price details
€85.33 x 1 Adult€85.33
Total
Price is €85.33
Until Sat, 8 Nov

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Information and application form translation fees
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Prayer fee paid to the shrine (5,000 yen for personal prayer)
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Amulets, etc. purchased privately

Know before you book

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Transport options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Not recommended for those who have pain in sitting straight
  • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

Activity itinerary

151-0052
  • 15m
Let's meet under the second torii gate. Here, I will guide you through the details of the torii's unique features, the displays of sake barrels and wine barrels nearby, as well as the waka poem prominently displayed at the front. It's a great spot for taking photos, so feel free to capture as many as you like. I'll be happy to assist you!
Meiji Jingu Kaguraden
  • 15m
We will walk from the second torii gate to the third torii gate. Along the way, I will teach you the proper etiquette for walking along the approach and passing through the torii gates. Many foreign tourists mistakenly perform these rituals incorrectly, which can come across as quite disrespectful. By learning the correct manners from us, you will gain the favour of the deities. I will also guide you through the waka poems and buildings we encounter along the way. Feel free to take photos at all these locations. I encourage you to capture great shots, and I'll be happy to assist you!
Meiji Jingu Kaguraden
  • 10m
At the purification fountain, cleanse your hands and mouth before proceeding to the main shrine area. First, let's experience the same method of worship as the general public. Using the ritual of offering a coin, followed by two bows, two claps, and one final bow, you will express your gratitude to the deities. There are areas where photography is not allowed, and I will guide you accordingly.
Meiji Jingu Kaguraden
  • 20m
  • Admission ticket not included
Next, we will move to the Kagura Hall, where you can receive individual blessings. First, you will fill out an application form at the entrance. On the form, you’ll indicate your prayer intentions, such as world peace, household safety, travel safety, recovery from illness, business success, finding a good match, safe childbirth, or academic achievement, along with your address and name. Once completed, submit the form along with the offering fee (starting from 5,000 yen) to the shrine priest to complete the process. The forms are available only in Japanese, but we will assist you thoroughly to ensure everything is handled smoothly. Once registration is complete, you’ll wait in the lounge for the ceremony to begin. This lounge is also a beautiful space where you can fully appreciate traditional Japanese art.
Meiji Jingu Kaguraden
  • 20m
  • Admission ticket not included
Now, we proceed to the altar in the Kagura Hall, where the ceremony will take place. The sound of a drum resonates as shrine priests, dressed in traditional Japanese attire, use sacred tools to perform a purification ritual for us. This cleansing brings a sense of peace and fulfillment. Following the purification, traditional court music known as gagaku is performed, accompanied by a dance by shrine maidens (miko). Gagaku, a musical tradition played on elaborately decorated drums and flutes from ancient times, has been designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The shrine maidens, adorned in traditional costumes, dance gracefully, creating an atmosphere of elegance. Watching this performance, you’ll feel as though you’ve become royalty in a grand palace.
Meiji Jingu Kaguraden
  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
After the ceremony concludes, the ritual is completed by receiving sacred offerings (shinsen) and drinking sacred sake (omiki). Shinsen refers to the offerings presented to the deities during the ceremony, which are later shared with participants as a souvenir. It is often in the form of nori (seaweed) and is meant to be enjoyed at home. Omiki is sacred sake offered to the deities, a portion of which is shared with participants. At the exit, you will receive a small cup, and a shrine maiden will pour the sake for you to drink on the spot. It is believed that items offered to the deities are imbued with spiritual power, and consuming these offerings is a way to pray for good health and protection from illness. This marks the end of the tour. While photography inside the Kagura Hall is strictly prohibited, you are free to take as many pictures as you like outside. Please feel free to ask for assistance—we’ll be happy to help!

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    151-0052
    • Yoyogikamizonocho
    • 151-0052, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Big Torii
    • 1 1
    • 151-8557, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

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