Many thanks to the guests who participated in this unusual weekday tour. On that Monday tour we hosted 14 guests from USA, Taiwan, Netherlands, Germany and France. The weather was cloudy in the beginning but as time pass by, the sky became cleared and turned very fine and hot.
We hope the guests enjoy the tour so as usual, we present photos taken during the tour to remember fun time we shared together.
Guests come from different backgrounds and learn differences and mutuality with us. At the shrine, there exhibited Bonsai (Potted Trees), Japan’s traditional art of plant grooming. Our guests were all impressed by that.
A guest from Nederlands said she visited all of 88 temples in Shikoku Island, which is famous for pilgrimage. But that is something only dedicated Buddhist believers do.
So our guests understand tradition of Japanese culture and spirits.
But this tour area not only provide traditional image of the shrine but progressive elements of the Japanese society.
A day before the tour, there was a LGBTQ parade on Omotesando street together with the event at a nearby park, Yoyogi Park, Tokyo Pride 2025 in line with World Pride Event. Tens of booths of sponsor companies were set up and stage shows were held. Guests from Taiwan saw the parade and were delighted.
For big corporations, sponsoring such an event has become proof of social contribution and progressiveness.
The marchers strolled Tokyo’s most fashionable street Omotesando, which is part of our tour course and the main approach to the shrine at the time of establishment, for the most progressive event.
The street was filled with cheers and joy waving rainbow flags, symbol of LGBTQ and DEI. In total of 15000 people participated in the parade and passed the shrine.
You might wonder how the situation of this issue is in Japan. Japan has yet legalised the same sex marriage. But in Japan, according to the opinion polls conducted by mainstream media, majority of Japanese citizens approve of the same sex marriage legalisation. Recently 5 high courts in Japan made a ruling that not allowing the same sex couples marry is unconstitutional. 90 percent of Japanese residents live in municipalities that provide the same sext partnership. The society has drastically changed these days.
Contrast between such progressiveness and tradition at the shrine is the feature of the tour course.
We are the guides who can let guests know both tradition and progressiveness of our society.
(Masa Y.)