Where to Go: the 10 Best Temple Walking Tours in Japan

1.Asakusa Walking Tour with Sensoji Temple Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,583 reviews · 2 hours · from $22Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Kaminarimon for a two-hour walk through Asakusa. You’ll see Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Nakamise Street, Hoppy Street, and Shin-Nakamise. Guides such as Aya, Keiko, Hiroko, and Loc add history, customs, food tips, and local context. The route finishes by Azuma Bridge.

“Terrific tour. Interesting to hear the history and to see the sights. Guide’s English was very good, and delivered with humor. Highly recommend.”

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2.Asakusa Senso-ji Temple and Old Tokyo Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 560 reviews · from $20Best reviewed

Spend about two hours walking Asakusa with an English-speaking local guide. Learn how to pray at Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine, explore Nakamise and Shin Nakamise, pass Hoppy Street, and finish by Azuma Bridge. Guides such as Aya, Glenda, Loc, Keiko, and Polina are praised for clear explanations, photo help, and useful food tips.

“Polina was a very knowledgeable guide who told us a lot about the history of Asakusa and Sensoji temple. We highly recommend this tour.”

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3.Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shinto & Imperial System

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 266 reviews · 90 - 135 minutes · from $23

Join an English-speaking guide such as Keiko, Yuuka, Yuki, or Ayaka for a 90 to 135 minute walk from Harajuku Station through Meiji Shrine’s forest. You’ll learn Shinto etiquette, see the giant torii and sake barrels, explore the shrine, and finish with tea or snacks at Mori no Terrace.

“The tour was outstanding. Tomo was such an interesting, informed and friendly guide and we loved the whole experience. Highly recommend him and this tour.”

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4.Meiji Jingu Shrine and Shinto Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 245 reviews · 2 hours · from $19

Spend two hours at Meiji Jingu with guides such as Maya, Yota, Ryota, or Andres, learning how to pray at a Shinto shrine, read its symbols, and understand the link between nature and faith. You’ll visit the Imperial Garden, giant torii, sake and wine barrels, and shrine buildings in a small, conversational group.

“Rio was the guide and he was super informative and friendly. Full of energy and a good attitude. Tour was great!”

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5.Meiji Shrine and Shinto Culture Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 225 reviews · from $18Cheapest good one

Join a small group of up to 15 people for a two-hour walk through Meiji Jingu with a guide such as Yumi, Sara, Haydn, or Benjamin. You’ll learn how to bow at the torii, cleanse before worship, read shrine symbols, and understand Emperor Meiji’s role in modern Japan. Admission and a mobile ticket are included.

“We had a great walking tour of the Meiji Shrine through the forest with Sara, our guide. She was very friendly and knowledgable and explained the important facets of the Shinto religion and customs. We had been on other tours, but hRead more”

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6.Meiji Shrine Walking Tour — Shintoism & Imperial System

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 209 reviews · from $21

Meet your local guide at Harajuku Station for a 90-minute small-group walk through Meiji Shrine. You’ll pass a huge Taiwan cypress torii, learn Shinto customs, visit the main shrine, explore the imperial garden, and browse charms at the nearby shop. Guides include Yuuki, Nana, Keiko, Nonoka, and Nanami.

“Lovely walk around Meiji jingu learning about the historic significance and traditions of the area. Guide Yuuki was friendly as well as support member Nono”

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7.Kyoto Tea Ceremony & Kiyomizu-dera Temple Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · from $109

Meet your Kyoto local guide at Yasaka Shrine at 9:00 am for a three-hour walk through Kiyomizu-zaka, Sannenzaka, and Ninenzaka. Visit Kiyomizu-dera, drink matcha, sample snacks, and learn tea ceremony customs. Guides such as Hide add history, humor, and helpful photos, with groups limited to six people.

“Great cerimonial and great views and sightseeing experience … history and also scenery all together …”

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8.Fushimi Inari Shrine Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Daily Yamazaki near Fushimi Inari at 6pm for a two-hour walk through Kyoto’s famous torii gates. Learn about Inari, fox symbolism, shrine rituals, and local customs while climbing forest trails to scenic viewpoints. Groups are capped at 10, and the tour returns to the meeting point.

“What an incredible way to understand shrine culture! Our guide shared stories that made every fox statue meaningful. The forest trails were gorgeous and surprisingly peaceful.”

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9.Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $91

Spend about three hours walking from Nagano Station through the old Zenkoji temple town. Guides such as Masa and Kasumi lead you to irori-cooked oyaki, sake with local nibbles, matcha, Japanese sweets, shrines, back streets, and small shops. The tour includes photographs, runs in small groups, and suits visitors who want food and local history together.

“Masa was an amazing guide that shared interesting information throughout the experience. He takes you to really amazing local spots that have not only fantastic snacks but really wonderful people who are excited to chat with you. 10/10, would book again.”

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10.Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine Walking Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 18 reviews · from $34

Meet at Kyoto Station and ride public transport with a Kyoto-certified English guide to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Walk beneath the famous Senbon Torii gates, learn local shrine customs, then visit Sekiho-ji Temple and its quiet Jizo statues and Zen garden. The two-hour tour runs weekdays from October 6 to 31, 2025.

“Our guide was outstanding! She helped explain so much that we would never have known and she was highly responsive to all our questions. A wonderful experience!”

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