Enjoy the cool breeze in the forest of Meiji Jingu Shrine
Much cooler than other sightseeing spots in Tokyo
Free walking tour guide at Meiji Shrine
After the great disaster caused by East Japan Earthquake on March 11, foreign visitors to Japan have been decreased. Under the authorization of Meiji Shrine, I am personally participated in voluntary activity of guiding those foreign visitors in English around the shrine. Our activity is held once or twice a month regularly at the shrine. As usual we worked as free tour guide on August 7 to introduce Japanese couture while guiding around the precinct of the shrine.
Although, climate in Tokyo was really scorching hot on the day, and was the highest temperature recorded 34 ℃, once we enter the forest of Meiji Shrine we feel rather cool. The forest works reducing temperature here so it is quite recommendable for those foreign visitors to take a break in the shrine.
16 guides were participated to our voluntary activity on the day, including 7 new guides who had no experience of showing around the shrine. They try to learn how to explain sightseeing spots in the shrine through experienced guides while assisting to them.
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| New guides with a couple from New Zeeland & a family from Bhutan |
Our team, consisting two new guides and I, could guide 3 parties from New Zeeland, the Netherlands, and Bhutan.
The first group from New Zeeland was a couple. They have been here when they were in honeymoon in Japan. The earthquake also attacked their country in February 2011 just before East Japan Earthquake. We exchanged consolation about the disaster each other.
The four young people from the Netherlands were our second guests and new guides took a part of guiding around the shrine. The family consisting of four people from Bhutan was my next guests. Actually, last two groups started from the Harajuke Gate together, because there is no guide is available at the time. While assisting to two new guides, I personally guided the family from Bhutan. I had no experience to talk to people from Bhutan. They game me an information about their favorite wine in Bhutan when I guiding at the barrels of sake or rice wine. According to his information, it is similar to Shochu or a Japanese distilled beverage, made from grains of rice, wheat, and millet. It is a sort of home-made wines named ‘Ara’. We could really enjoy talking to them.
Why don’t you come and see us at Meiji Shrine when you visit our country.
Meiji Shrine (明治神宮,)
It is ,located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.
After the emperor’s death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. An iris garden in an area of Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken had been known to visit was chosen as the building’s location.
Construction began in 1915, and the shrine was built in the traditional Nagare-zukuri or stream style and is made up primarily of Japanese cypress and copper. It was formally dedicated in 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds officially finished by 1926. Until 1946, the Meiji Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.
The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund raising effort and completed in October, 1958.
Meiji Shrine was brought into the flow of current events with the 2009 visit of United State Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. After arriving in Tokyo on her first foreign trip representing the newly elected Presiden Barack Obama, she made her way to this shrine in advance of meetings with Japan’s leaders to show her “respect toward history and the culture of Japan.”
In January 2010, German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle demonstrated the same respect when he concluded his visit to Japan with a visit of the shrine.
＜Reference materials＞
http://en.wikipedia.org/
■For travelers from overseas
As a certified guide-interpreter in English and also a writer of the website “Cool Japan Guide”, I am very happy to introduce Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo. If you have something to ask, or need English speaking tour guide when visit Japan please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your kind cooperation, I am looking forward to your contact.
Please Contact Us/お問合せ
■Introduction of the specialist for Onsen design
I would like to introduce one of the best Japanese architects, Mr. Hiroshi Ebisawa, who is specialized in Onsen facility.
Please contact: http://www.e-koubo.co.jp/
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