Seven-Five-Three Shuttle Service by Private Jumbo Taxi | Bringing Grandparents and Granddaughters to the Shrine in One Vehicle

"It's a special occasion like Hanami, and we want to visit the shrine with our whole family in comfort." However, when you think about the actual day of the trip, you might be a little anxious. In this article, we will outline what renting a private jumbo taxi for Hanami transportation can do for you, based on the usual congestion and parking issues at popular shrines. We have compiled tips for choosing and preparing for a family from Saitama and Tokyo who want to take their children and grandparents to the shrine, photo studio, and dining venue without any hassle.

Things that can be difficult to navigate during the Seven-Five-Three day of travel

The Seven-Five-Three is an important day to celebrate your child's growth. However, many parents report feeling exhausted from "moving around." First, try to think of specific problems that often occur on the day.

The "common things" of having small children with you

Children ages 3, 5, and 7 may be reluctant to walk in their unfamiliar kimono, get fussy midway through the journey, or suddenly want to go to the restroom. Walking the long path in sandals is also a challenge. When the waiting time for photo taking and prayer is combined with the fatigue, it can be very difficult to keep them happy and in good spirits. Sitting still in the train or bus is also very tiring.

Scenes where grandparents are also present

I want my grandparents to see me in a happy mood too. But with frequent transfers on trains and buses, it puts a strain on my legs and back. On the other hand, splitting up into two cars would make a day that should be wonderful for the whole family a nightmare. Not only that, the luggage and clothes we need to bring with us also add up to more than we thought.

The "Parking is Full" Problem That Often Goes Unnoticed

The parking lot is a surprisingly large wall. At the Omoto Shrine in Omiya, Saitama, for example, the prayer service is held every 30 minutes from 9:00 to 16:00; during the holidays in October and November, especially on weekends and holidays, the parking lot is especially crowded, and the first parking lot is said to be almost completely full for the Shinto festival season. In 2026, the Sunday on November 15 is expected to be a peak time, with the parking lot likely to be very crowded from 14:00 to 15:00. If you decide to go out by car, you won’t be able to find a parking spot; your kimono-wearing grandchild and grandparents will have to walk slowly from a distant parking lot… that’s a situation that you’d like to avoid, if possible.

So it makes sense to do it all in one go.

If we reverse the problems up to this point, we can see the reason why chartered jumbo taxis are a good match for the Setsubun festival. Let’s try to balance the concepts of “inconvenience” and “resolution.”

Of course, if it’s just a small group of you—just the couple and your children—and you want to quickly visit a local shrine, even a regular taxi or a walk would be sufficient. On days like this when three generations gather, you’ll find it worth it to bring everything together into one vehicle.

Guidelines for the number of people and vehicle types, and how to think about fees

Here are the guidelines for how many people and which vehicles are best suited: you can choose according to the number of family members and the amount of luggage.

The rates do not include any additional charges based on the vehicle type, nor do they include an extra charge for late or early morning hours. Since the car is rented out in its entirety, the higher the number of passengers, the less the individual cost will be (the concept of splitting the cost). The exact amount varies depending on the route and time, so for the purposes of this article, we’ve provided an estimate; for more information, please contact us.Pricing pageやweb formPlease use our online quote. If you can provide the destination, number of people, and approximate time, we will recommend a plan that suits your family.

It's a good idea to prepare in advance by the day of the event.

Even if you rent a car for your trip, there are a few small preparations you can make to make the day go smoothly. Here are some check points to ensure you don’t make any mistakes.

We decide the timing of the prayer and the photo shoot in advance.

The prayer itself takes about 20 minutes, and in many shrines it is performed at 30-minute intervals. If you plan to visit on a busy day, it’s a good idea to allow about an hour or two from the time you check in to the end of the service. You can arrange for your child to take photos before the wedding day or during the morning free time, depending on their physical condition.

Consult with the reservation staff about the place of boarding and alighting

Depending on the shrine, there are different places where you can enter by car and different spaces where you can wait. If you tell us at the time of booking where you want to get off and where you want to wait, you won’t get lost on the day of the event.

Things to bring for children and kimono

Comfortable shoes, a coat you can wear, drinks and snacks, and if you have small children, a change of clothes and diapers. Having pins to fix a dress that has come apart or towels is also useful. It’s reassuring to know that these items can be stored inside the car, which is unique to chartering.

Give yourself a little leeway on the date.

In 2026, November 15th is a Sunday, and the weekends before and after are particularly crowded. If you spread the prayer times out to weekdays or a little later, on Obon (November 22nd in 2026), the prayer service and the relocation will be much more relaxed.

Reservation Flow

1. Contact:Please provide the date, time, number of people, and destination (such as shrine, photo studio, or dining venue) from the web form.
2. Plan and Estimate:We will suggest the best vehicle, route, and price options. You can also discuss where to get off and where to get on at this stage.
3. Booking Confirmed:Once you are satisfied with the content, it will be final. We will share the flow of the day in advance.
4. Boarding on the day:We will pick you up at your designated location and spend the day together door-to-door.

summary

For the Seven-Five-Three ceremony, you can rely on a private jumbo taxi that can accommodate both the children and their grandparents in kimono. There’s no need to search for a parking spot full of cars; you can travel to and from shrines, photo studios, and dining venues without having to change vehicles. And you can leave your luggage in the car, so you can spend the day together without having to worry about getting tired from the journey. To make this a memorable day for the whole family, it’s recommended that you plan and book early. Please feel free to consult with us to discuss your family’s plans first.