This article is based on a visit made on Monday, 31 March 2014.
Meiji Shrine (明治神宮,
Meiji-jingū) was built in 1920 to enshrine the spirits of
Emperor Meiji (明治天皇,
Meiji-tennō, 1852-1912), and his wife
Empress Shoken (昭憲皇后,
Shōken-kōgō, 1849-1914). (The emperor's body itself was buried in Kyoto.) It is among the most famous Shinto shrines in both Tokyo and the whole of Japan, and draws its biggest crowds on New Year's Day (1 January), one of the more important holidays in Japan. What also makes Meiji Shrine notable is its location, situated in the middle of a forest 70 hectares (170 acres) in size.
The closest train station to Meiji Shrine is Harajuku Station, on the JR Yamanote line. The station is scheduled to be rebuilt in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics, to ease overcrowding issues, and as of yet it is undetermined as to whether it will retain this original building.
The NTT Docomo Yoyogi building peeks out from behind the forest. Situated north of the Meiji Shrine grounds, it was completed in 2000, stands 240 meters / 790 feet tall (it is currently the fourth-tallest building in Tokyo), and was inspired by the Chrysler Building in New York City. Visitors are not accepted there, however.
From Harajuku Station, the path to the actual complex goes on through the woods for about half a mile / 800 meters. The cityscape surrounding the shrine grounds seems to disappear as you walk further in and the sylvanian tranquility engulfs you. The start of this path is marked by one of a few giant wooden
torii gates.
Along the way is a storage rack of sake barrels that were donated to the shrine...
...And another storage rack of wine barrels across from that. Emperor Meiji reigned in a time when Japan once again opened its ports to the outside world, so I imagine the introduction of Western-style wine would have been a big deal.
About halfway along the path stands another giant
torii gate.
Empress Shōken, the wife of Emperor Meiji, was a major benefactor of the
Japanese Red Cross Society. This billboard, detailing her life and the activities of the Red Cross, was erected to honour her on the 100th anniversary of her death (1914).
Turning right afterwards, we soon reach the shrine grounds. Off to the left and right of this picture, you may be able to see the roofs of some smaller structures. If I recall it correctly, the one on the left shelters a fountain where visitors are to rinse their hands and mouth for ritual purification. The process involves the following steps:
- Fill one of the provided ladles with water from the fountain.
- Holding the ladle in your right hand, pour some of the water into your left hand.
- Switch hands and pour some of the water into your right hand.
- Cup your right hand, pour some more water into it, and rinse your mouth with it.
- Spit the water onto the ground next to the fountain.
The outer courtyard. To the right are some people lined up to buy
o-mamori (御守, lit. 'sacred guard') charms and
o-mikuji (御神籤 / おみくじ, lit. 'sacred lot'), or fortune-telling papers. The ones sold at Meiji Shrine are derived from works written by the eponymous Emperor and his wife, and are also available in English.
Situated at the end of this courtyard is the main hall (本殿,
honden) of the shrine. The roofs are made of copper plating, which over the years oxidised into the green colour you see here. Most of the original shrine buildings were burnt down during World War II, but were rebuilt in 1958.
To make a prayer at a Shinto shrine, the steps are:
- Place a coin or coins into the offering box, as much or as little money as you like.
- Bow deeply twice.
- Clap loudly twice, to get the god's attention. If the shrine has a bell, ring it instead.
- Bow once more, and make your prayer.
Another booth selling
omikuji off to the side.
A small group of photographers and I caught from afar what I presume to be a bride getting a photoshoot done.
A row of plaques called
ema (絵馬, lit. 'picture horse'). You can buy an
ema for a couple hundred yen, write your wish upon it, and hang it up, in the hopes that it will come true someday.
I caught these white-robed people lining up for a religious procession of some sort.
In Shinto religious practices, sacred places (usually trees or rocks) are adorned with a
shimenawa (標縄, lit. 'enclosing rope'), a thick rope with zigzagged paper tassels called
shide (紙垂, lit. 'hanging paper'). The rope itself is made either of straw, rice fibres or hemp. The rope is meant to symbolise clouds, and the alternating straw and paper tassels symbolise thunder and lightning.
If you seek further enlightenment, you may also want to visit the Inner Garden and the Treasure House. The Inner Garden is mid-way along the path to the main shrine, on the left. The Treasure House is on the northern edge of the forest, another 10 minutes from the main shrine. Unlike the main shrine, both have an entry fee of 500 yen each.
Hours: Open from sunrise to sunset. No regular closing days.
Costs: The main hall area, seen in this article, is free to visit. Entry to the Inner Garden and Treasure House costs ¥500 each.
Address: 1-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-chō, Shibuya-ku, Tōkyō-to 〒151-8557
Access: The main hall of Meiji Shrine is 10-15 minutes away on foot from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote
(JY) line) and Meiji Jingu-mae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda
(C) and Fukutoshin
(F) lines). It can also be reached in 10 minutes from Kita-Sando Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line), or 15 minutes from Yoyogi Station (JR Yamanote, Chuo-Sobu
(JB), and Toei Oedo
(E) lines).
From Shinjuku Station, take the Yamanote line to Harajuku (JY19, 5 minutes, ¥140). From Tokyo Station, walk to the nearby Nijubashi-mae Station and take the Chiyoda subway line to Meiji Jingu-mae (C03, 13 minutes, ¥200).
Website:
(English) (Japanese)
