Start
9:00, hotel lobby
Guide
Yuuki, all day
Finish
To confirm with you

Tuesday

The Shibuya scramble crossing from above
The Shibuya scramble crossing, seen from above.

The shrine first, soba in Shibuya at 13:00.

Yuuki picks you up at the hotel at 9:00. Meiji Jingu in the morning, then Harajuku and Omotesando on foot, the Shibuya crossing, and soba at 13:00 in a quiet back-street shop. If you still have energy, Kappabashi kitchen street is one train from Shibuya.

The day, hour by hour

With YuukiMoving, or optional
Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya
  • 9:00
  • 10:00
  • 11:00
  • 12:00
  • 13:00
  • 14:00
  • 15:00
  • 16:00
  • 17:00
  1. Train to Harajuku
  2. Meiji Jingu9:30 to 10:45What you will see ↓
  3. Harajuku and Omotesando10:50 to 12:10
  4. Walk to Shibuya
  5. Shibuya Crossing
  6. Soba lunch13:00 to 14:15
  7. Kappabashi (optional)15:00 to 17:00
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Meiji Jingu, the forest shrine

A shrine for Emperor Meiji, opened in 1920, inside a forest of about 100,000 trees that people from all over Japan donated and planted by hand. It sits right next to Harajuku Station, and it is free to enter.

Entry
Free. Open from sunrise to sunset.
Walking
About 10 minutes on a wide gravel path from the gate to the main hall. Flat, with benches.
On a weekday
Quiet in the morning. You may see a wedding procession cross the courtyard.
A wedding procession at Meiji JinguMeiji Jingu
The gate of Meiji JinguThe great torii
  1. 1
    The great toriiThe wooden gate at the entrance, made from a cypress tree over 1,500 years old.
  2. 2
    The sake barrelsA wall of decorated sake barrels donated to the shrine, with French wine barrels opposite.
  3. 3
    The main hallBow twice, clap twice, bow once. Yuuki shows you how.
  4. 4
    Wishes and charmsWrite a wish on a wooden plaque (ema) or buy a charm (omamori) to take home.

Comfortable shoes for gravel. Bring a few ¥100 coins if you want to make an offering.

Meiji Jingu (official) ↗

Meiji Jingu, Harajuku, Shibuya

Pickup 9:00, finish time to confirm

The shrine is calmest in the morning, so it comes first. Harajuku and Omotesando are a short walk downhill from it, and Shibuya is the next station. Lunch goes in the middle so the afternoon is short.

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Takeshita Dori, Harajuku (44191369751).jpgShibuya Crossing, Aerial.jpg
  1. 9:00
    Pickup at the hotelLobby of THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA. Chiyoda line to Meiji-jingumae, about 20 minutes.
  2. 9:30
    Meiji JinguThe forest shrine. Free, flat gravel paths, about an hour and a quarter.
  3. 10:50
    Takeshita Street, then OmotesandoThe narrow street of teenage fashion and crepe stands, then the wide tree-lined avenue below it. Coffee if you want it.
  4. 12:15
    Walk to Shibuya, the crossingAbout 20 minutes on foot down Cat Street. See the crossing from above first, then walk across it.
  5. 13:00
    Soba lunch, 60 to 75 minutesKamiyama, a small quiet soba house in the back streets of Shibuya, about 10 minutes on foot from the crossing. 13:00 is after the office lunch rush. Lunch until 14:00. Backup: Tamawarai near Harajuku, open to 15:00.
  6. Later
    Finish (to confirm)Tell Yuuki what time you want to finish. If you have energy, Kappabashi kitchen street is one train from Shibuya on the Ginza line, no changes.

Hotel → Meiji-jingumae: Chiyoda line, about 20 min. Shrine → Takeshita Street → Omotesando → Shibuya: on foot. Crossing → Kamiyama: 10 min on foot. Shibuya → Kappabashi: Ginza line to Tawaramachi, about 30 min. Open the route in Google Maps ↗

Good for
The three things you asked for, in an order that keeps the walking short.
Keep in mind
The finish time is not fixed yet. Tell Yuuki before the day or in the morning. Kappabashi shops close around 17:00, so it only fits if you finish late.

Meiji Jingu (official) ↗Kamiyama (Tabelog) ↗Tamawarai (Tabelog) ↗Kappabashi Dougu Street (official) ↗

Yuuki picks you up at 9:00

Yuuki meets you in the lobby of THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA at 9:00. From the hotel it is one train on the Chiyoda line to Meiji-jingumae, about 20 minutes, no changes.

THE BLOSSOM HIBIYA, 1-1-13 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo ↗

Guide fee for the day: US$250 or ¥40,000. Entry tickets, trains, taxis and meals are paid as we go.