Meiji Shrine
明治神宮
A 175-acre forest in central Tokyo holding a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji, who opened Japan to the modern world
About Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) is a Shinto shrine in a 175-acre forested park in central Tokyo, dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) and Empress Shoken. The forest was planted entirely by volunteers: over 120,000 trees donated from all over Japan were planted when the shrine was established in 1920 on what had previously been bare ground. The approach to the shrine along the wide gravel path under the tree canopy takes about 10 minutes and is itself the main experience, with the two towering cypress torii gates marking the transition between the city and the shrine precinct. The main hall is free; the Inner Garden (iris pond, tea house) and the Treasure Museum each cost ¥500 separately.
Essential Tips
Arrive before 8 AM to walk the forest approach without crowds. After 10 AM on weekends the path becomes congested
The shrine grounds and main hall are free. Budget only ¥500 each if you want the Inner Garden and/or Treasure Museum
Saturday mornings and calendar-auspicious days (taian) are when Shinto weddings are most common. Processions pass through the inner courtyard 11 AM to 3 PM
New Year hatsumode (January 1-3): approximately 3 million visitors. Avoid unless you want the experience of Japan's largest shrine gathering
The Inner Garden iris pond peaks in early to mid-June. The ¥500 is worth paying if you visit during that window
Prayer sequence at the main hall: bow twice, clap twice, pray, bow once
Walk on the sides of the gravel approach path: the center is traditionally reserved for the kami
The Treasure Museum is closed the 3rd Friday of each month
The forest is noticeably cooler than the streets outside in summer; the tree canopy drops the temperature by several degrees
English brochures are available at the entrance booth near the first torii gate
Don't Miss
The Torii Gates
The first torii gate on the approach is 12 meters high and made from 1,500-year-old Taiwanese cypress. A second, smaller torii marks the inner precinct. Both are unpainted wood. Pausing at the main gate and looking down the long gravel path through the trees before walking through gives a better sense of scale than photos suggest.
Forest Approach
The 10-minute walk from the main torii to the inner shrine passes through a forest of 120,000 trees that volunteers planted over 100 years ago. The path is wide gravel flanked by 15-meter trees; the transition from the street noise outside is immediate. The temizuya water purification basin is at the inner courtyard, before the main hall.
Main Shrine (Honden)
The main hall where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are enshrined. The building is in the nagare-zukuri architectural style, constructed from hinoki (Japanese cypress). The current structure dates from 1958 (a reconstruction after the 1945 air raids). Shinto prayer follows a specific sequence: bow twice, clap twice, pray silently, bow once more. The inner precinct is free to enter.
Sake & Wine Barrels Display
On the left side of the approach path, before the inner torii: stacked rows of sake barrels (donated annually by breweries from across Japan) and a row of Burgundy wine barrels (donated by a French wine region). Emperor Meiji was among the first Japanese rulers to publicly embrace Western food and drink, and the wine barrels reflect that history. Good photo stop on the way in.
What to Do Here
Traditional Shinto Prayer
Follow proper shrine etiquette: bow twice, clap twice, pray, bow once more. Make an offering (¥5 coins are considered lucky - 'go-en' means good relationship). Buy an omamori (charm) or ema (wooden prayer plaque).
Tips:
- Purify at the temizuya (water basin) before approaching the main hall
- Toss a coin gently into the offering box; ¥5 coins are traditional (go-en, meaning good fortune)
- Prayer sequence: bow twice, clap twice, pray silently, bow once more
- Walk along the sides of the gravel path, not the center (the center is traditionally for the kami)
Traditional Wedding Procession
Meiji Shrine is the most popular Shinto wedding venue in Tokyo. Processions walk from the main hall through the inner courtyard: the bride in a white shiromuku kimono, the groom in formal montsuki hakama, with Shinto priests and attendants. Processions typically pass through the inner precinct between 11 AM and 3 PM on ceremony days. Observation from the courtyard is fine; direct flash photography at the wedding party is not.
Tips:
- Saturday mornings and calendar-auspicious days (taian) are when most weddings are scheduled
- Processions walk from the main hall to the inner gate between approximately 11 AM and 3 PM
- Photography from the courtyard at a respectful distance is acceptable
- Multiple ceremonies may occur on busy Saturdays. If you miss one, another may follow within 30-40 minutes
Inner Garden (Meiji Jingu Gyoen)
A separate garden within the shrine precinct, accessible via a gate on the left side of the main approach path. The garden contains an iris pond with approximately 150 varieties (peak bloom: early to mid-June), a tea house, and a well associated with Empress Shoken. The ¥500 admission is separate from the free shrine visit. Significantly fewer visitors enter here than the main shrine.
Tips:
- Iris bloom peaks in early to mid-June, the most worthwhile time to pay the garden admission
- The entrance is on the left side of the main approach, before the inner torii
- The garden adds 30-45 minutes to the total visit time
- Outside iris season, the garden is pleasant but the ¥500 is optional; assess based on how much time you have
Treasure Museum Visit
A small museum in the eastern section of the grounds displaying personal belongings of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken: ceremonial dress, personal correspondence, the imperial carriage, and items reflecting the Western cultural influences the Emperor adopted. The collection is modest but gives specific context to the shrine's history that the grounds alone do not.
Tips:
- Closed the 3rd Friday of each month
- English explanations are provided for major exhibits
- Admission ¥500; worth visiting if you have an hour and genuine interest in Meiji period history
- The annex museum (Meiji Jingu Museum, nearby) opened in 2019 with additional artifacts
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
grounds
Sunrise to sunset (varies by season)
main Hall
Typically 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM (winter), 5:00 AM - 6:30 PM (summer)
treasure Museum
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (closed 3rd Friday)
Best Time to Visit
Early morning (6-8 AM) for peaceful atmosphere, or witness a traditional wedding on weekends
Avoid:
New Year's (Jan 1-3) - over 3 million visitors, most crowded shrine in Japan
Nearby
Harajuku & Takeshita Street
The Harajuku youth fashion district and Takeshita Street are a 5-minute walk from the shrine's south exit.
500 meters
Yoyogi Park
A large open park directly east of the shrine grounds. Bands, performance groups, and food vendors on Sundays.
Adjacent
Omotesando Avenue
Tokyo's Champs-Élysées - luxury boutiques and architecturally stunning buildings.
800 meters
Gallery
The iconic 12-meter tall main torii gate
Peaceful forest approach to the shrine
The majestic main shrine (Honden)
Traditional sake barrel display
Traditional wedding ceremony at the shrine
Inner Garden's beautiful iris pond (best in June)
History
founding
Meiji Shrine was established in 1920, eight years after Emperor Meiji's death and six years after Empress Shoken's death. The shrine was built to commemorate the Emperor and Empress who led Japan through the Meiji Restoration (1868) - transforming it from feudal society to modern nation.
significance
Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) oversaw Japan's transformation from an isolated feudal state to a constitutionally governed modern nation with a professional army, national railway system, and compulsory education. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 is the defining political event of modern Japanese history, and the shrine is the central memorial to that period. The New Year hatsumode (approx. 3 million visitors over three days) is the largest religious gathering in Japan.
forest
The 175-acre forest surrounding the shrine was artificially created through one of history's largest volunteer efforts. Over 100,000 trees of 365 species were donated and planted by volunteers from across Japan. Originally bare land, it's now a thriving 100-year-old forest ecosystem.
reconstruction
The original buildings were destroyed in WWII air raids (1945). The current structures were rebuilt in 1958, faithfully recreating the original cypress wood architecture in the traditional nagare-zukuri style.
Getting There
JR Yamanote Line
Station: Harajuku Station
Exit: Omotesando Exit (west)
Walk: 5 minutes to main torii gate
Most direct access from central Tokyo. Harajuku Station has a well-preserved Victorian-era wooden building on the platform side.
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda / Fukutoshin Lines
Station: Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku) Station
Exit: Exit 2
Walk: 3 minutes
Exit 2 is the closest point to the shrine's southern entrance and the first torii gate.
JR Yamanote Line
Station: Yoyogi Station
Exit: West Exit
Walk: 10 minutes (alternative north entrance)
Less crowded entrance, walk through Yoyogi Park
Odakyu Line
Station: Sangubashi Station
Exit: Main exit
Walk: 5 minutes (north entrance)
Quiet entrance via north gate, fewer tourists
Location
1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557
Nearest: Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji-jingumae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda / Fukutoshin Line) (5 minutes from Harajuku Station Omotesando Exit to the first torii gate)
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