Private tour in Tokyo Ken T
up to 4 people
3 hours 30 minutes
Walking
1
Ken T.
Other than spending five years in Portland, Oregon (US) from age 7 to 12, I have lived in the Tokyo...
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Learn about the history of the Meiji Shrine, completed in 1920 and now one of the most visited shrines in Japan. Learn the background about the rapid transitions that took place during Emperor Meiji's era, from an isolated nation led by Shoguns to a more modern nation with strong European influence. After a walk of the beautiful forest of the shrine, the focus shifts to the contemporary architecture in the area. The main street, the Omotesando Avenue was first developed as the main approach to the Meiji Shrine with a strong western influence seen in the design. After the end of WWII, the US military built a housing area which they named Washington Heights in what is now Yoyogi Park. These contribute to the international feel of this district. It is only in recent years that the area has transitioned from mostly residential to being the home of luxury brands. With it came new works by renowned architects such as Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Herzog & de Meuron.
The first part of the tour will focus on the Meiji Shrine. In addition to the main area, we will walk routes that most tourists do not visit to enjoy the peace of the shrine forest. We will then visit parts of Yoyogi Park, an area known as Washington Heights after WWII when the US Military took control. After the Americans left, it was used as the athlete village in the 1964 Olympics and then converted to a city park. The Yoyogi Gymnasium by Kenzo Tange is a proud legacy from the '64 games. This will be followed by a tour of the iconic contemporary architecture in the area including works by: Herzog & de Meuron Kengo Kuma Tadao Ando Toyo Ito SANAA While we focus on a just one area of Tokyo, there will still be lots of walking involved. The tour will not cover Takeshita Street, another attraction in Harajuku. The street has become a bit of a tourist trap in recent years, at least in my opinion. You can choose to visit it yourself after the tour, if you are interested.
Contact your local guide to know more!!
Walking and public transport
Tokyo, Japan
Guide suggestion: JR Harajuku Station (near the IKEA store adjacent to station)
(3)
Book with a 20% deposit!
Size:
up to 4 people
Duration:
3 hours 30 minutes
Transportation:
Walking
1
Book with a 20% deposit!
Size:
up to 4 people
Duration:
3 hours 30 minutes
Transportation:
Walking
1
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