"In the crowded crowd, will I be able to bring my wheelchair-bound parent along?"—Are you giving up your first New Year's visit out of fear of that?
Minimize the walking distance and waiting time from the entrance to the shrine hall. This private transfer is barrier-free and allows accompanying family members to ride along.
I want to go to the shrine on New Year's Day with my parents who have limited mobility or my family with a wheelchair. But the shrine on New Year's Day is crowded with people, and I'm worried about the long lines at the train station—New Year's Day worship services that take accessibility into accountThe sense of security changes significantly not only with "to which shrine" but also with "how to get there." In this article, we have compiled tips for traveling with families who are worried about using wheelchairs or walking to go on their first New Year's visit, as well as frequently asked questions about charter jumbo taxis. You can visit Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, Musashi-inomiya Hikawa Shrine, and Meiji Shrine, all of which are within our service area.
The “difficulty of traveling” for the first New Year’s visit isn’t the congestion itself.
What many families struggle with is the journey to the shrine itself, rather than the actual queue. At the start of the year, public transportation is often congested as with popular shrines, and it is not uncommon for nearby parking lots to be closed. For example, Musashino Ichijigan Shrine (Shibukawa City) is about a 15-minute walk from Omiya Station, but during the first-time prayer season, the nearby parking lots are closed and public transportation is recommended. For those with limited walking distance, this "15 minutes from the station to the shrine" and "not being able to park because the lot is full" become the biggest obstacles.
Axis of thinking:Go to the shrine as close as possible by car, and shorten the walking distance and waiting time. This is the fastest way to make your New Year's visit barrier-free. If you rent a car, we can pick you up at the front door and take you as far as traffic restrictions and congestion allow.
Examples of shrines that can reduce the distance walked
The care provided in the precincts varies depending on the shrine or temple. For example, Meiji Shrine (Shibuya Ward) has a walking path with stone slabs laid along both sides of the approach path, and the main shrine and the shrine hall have gentle slopes and spacious multipurpose restrooms with backsides. When choosing a shrine to visit, it is reassuring to check in advance about the availability of slopes, multipurpose restrooms, and steps. Our driver can also provide you with guidelines for places where it is easy to park and for times of day when it is relatively quiet.
First New Year's Day with a wheelchair-bound family｜Frequently Asked Questions
Can the wheelchair be loaded? Can I ride it as is?
Foldable wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers can be loaded into the luggage compartment. The basic procedure is for the passenger to get into the seat themselves; staff will assist as much as possible. Please note that we are a sightseeing shuttle and private taxi service, not a nursing taxi or medical transport equipped with a stretcher or wheelchair. For families who can move around in a seated position, please feel free to contact us for a consultation.
Can accompanying family members also ride along? How many people?
Yes. The Jumbo Taxi (Toyota HiAce Wide)Max. 9 personsYou can ride on it all the way. The big advantage is that even if you have a wheelchair or luggage, all the accompanying family members can ride along. You can go to the shrine together without being divided into "the taxi driver and the family" and everyone can go together.
How close can I get to the shrine?
At the beginning of the year, there may be places where traffic restrictions or pedestrian-only zones are in effect, and you may not be able to enter the grounds until right in front of them. However, we will adjust the route to allow you to board and alight as close to the front of the shrine as possible. The distance from the arrival point to the shrine and the slope are planned together with you in advance, based on your consultation.
Are there times when congestion can be avoided?
The third day of the month is the busiest time of the day (usually around noon). If you want to reduce the burden as much as possible, early morning or weekdays after the third day of the month are ideal. Since chartering a vehicle allows you to set the time freely, it is also convenient to adjust the time to suit your own body condition.
How much does the fee cost?
The price depends on the distance, usage time, and route, so the final amount will be provided in a quote. Our company does not charge extra for late night or early morning rides, nor for different vehicle types. For an approximate idea, please see the table below. The exact price will be determined based on the actual distance traveled.Pricing pagePlease confirm the estimated cost with us.
| Usage image | Main rules | In times like this |
|---|---|---|
| Roundtrip transportation | Distance between home and shrine and waiting time | A simple New Year's visit to a single shrine to return home |
| Time-based charter | Usage time (such as half a day) and mileage | When you want to visit a shrine and also go to a meal or the first-day shopping |
| Tour of several companies | Number and routes of Shinto shrines to visit | When you want to visit two or three companies together for good luck for your family |
When splitting the cost:Charter pricing is per vehicle. If you have five to eight people traveling, including an attendant, the burden per person is significantly reduced, and it may even be cheaper than ordering a dedicated taxi for the entire group. Moreover, you can get rid of the “hard-to-quantify difficulties” such as transferring a heavy wheelchair or traveling without family members, all at once with one vehicle.
Booking and the day of the event
- Consult via web form:Please let us know the place of worship, the desired date and time, the number of people, and whether you have a wheelchair or a walker.
- Plans and estimates:We will propose a plan that includes convenient locations and times of day when it is most convenient to get on and off.
- Pickup on the day:We will pick you up at your front door and deliver you to the nearest shrine.
- Pick-up after the worship service:We will wait for you at the agreed time and place, and then take you home by foot. The walking distance on the way back is minimal.
summary
For families with family members who have difficulty getting around in wheelchairs or with their feet, the first New Year's visit can be made much easier if you can overcome the "barrier of mobility." With just one vehicle from your front door to the shrine, your accompanying family can walk together, minimizing the distance and waiting time. We can guide you to the shrines in the coverage area such as Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, Musashi-no-miya Ichigawa Shrine, and Meiji Shrine. We hope that by having your whole family attend the shrine together to pray for a happy new year, you will not give up on that precious time because of the worries about transportation.
The whole family is going to make a simple New Year's visit without making it too difficult.
When the number of people is complete, including the person accompanying you, the charter fee is split among everyone. For transfers with a heavy wheelchair, worry about leaving the family behind is all taken care of.
Simply let us know your preferred place of worship, date and number of people. You can contact us 24 hours a day through the web form. We offer a free quote.
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