Kawasaki Daishi Walking Tour: Temple rituals and Kanayama Shrine

Three hours of temple rituals, lucky shops and a shrine devoted to fertility

A three-hour guided walking tour of Kawasaki Daishi Temple in Kawasaki, Japan, where you perform purification rituals, try your fortune with omikuji (fortune tickets), and walk to nearby Kanayama Shrine. The tour includes a live Italian-speaking guide and passes through the Omotesando shopping street and Nakamise-dori, where you can visit a Daruma shop and a traditional chopstick store.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kawasaki Daishi Temple and Kanayama Shrine

• Walk along Omotesando avenue
• Stroll Nakamise-dori street shops
• Visit Daruma and chopstick shops
• Perform ritual prayer and purification
• Try your luck with Omikuji
• Walk to Kanayama Shrine
• End tour at Kawasaki-Daishi Station

The experience

The walk starts at the Omotesando, the main avenue leading to Kawasaki Daishi Temple, where you'll pass the historic Kuzumochi store and move into Nakamise-dori, a street lined with small shops selling lucky Daruma dolls and traditional Japanese chopsticks. If you want, your guide can help you choose Kanji characters to engrave your name on chopsticks: a detail most visitors skip. The pace is slow enough to take in the shops without rushing.

At the temple itself, you'll learn the correct way to perform purification rituals and prayers, then try them yourself. Your guide will explain the omikuji (the fortune-telling papers you draw and read), so you understand what you're doing rather than just going through the motions. This is where the tour shifts from sightseeing to participation.

After the temple, you walk on foot to Kanayama Shrine, a sanctuary dedicated to fertility, marital harmony and protection, known worldwide for its annual Kanamara Matsuri festival held on the first Sunday of April. The tour ends at Kawasaki-Daishi Station, a short walk from the shrine.

What’s included

• Guide fee.
• access to Kawasaki Daishi Temple and Kanayama Shrine.
• instruction in purification rituals and prayer.
• explanation of omikuji fortune-telling traditions.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 20 Dec

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 74 years) · Senior (75 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideItalian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteJP¥ 527

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by ジョバンニ

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want hands-on participation in temple rituals rather than observation from a distance. You'll perform the purification and prayers yourself with your guide's instruction, and draw your own fortune ticket to read. The minimum age is 18.

Top questions

What exactly happens during the purification ritual at Kawasaki Daishi Temple?

Your guide will teach you the correct steps for purification and prayer at the temple, then you perform them yourself rather than watching a demonstration. The guide also explains the omikuji fortune-telling process so you understand the tradition before you draw your own fortune ticket.

Can I buy souvenirs at the shops along the Omotesando and Nakamise-dori?

Yes. The Nakamise-dori street has shops selling Daruma dolls and traditional chopsticks, and you can have your name engraved in Kanji on chopsticks with your guide's help. The historic Kuzumochi store is also along the route if you want to pick up snacks.

What is Kanayama Shrine and why do we visit it?

Kanayama Shrine is a sanctuary dedicated to fertility, offspring prosperity, marital harmony and protection from disease. It is known worldwide for the Kanamara Matsuri festival held every year on the first Sunday of April, and the tour includes a visit after you finish at the temple.

How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for someone with limited fitness?

The tour covers three hours of walking at a slow pace through the temple grounds and streets, ending with a walk to Kanayama Shrine. It is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What language does the guide speak?

The guide speaks Italian and will lead you through the temple rituals, explain the traditions and accompany you to Kanayama Shrine.