Meiji Jingu Shrine

What to know before visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine

Things to do at Meiji Jingu Shrine

Enter Through the Grand Torii Gate

Start your visit to Meiji Jingu Shrine by walking through the huge Torii Gate at the entrance. This iconic gate welcomes you into the serene shrine grounds and symbolizes the transition from a busy city to a sacred space. As you pass under the gate, take a moment to appreciate its size and architecture.

Visit the Inner Garden and Iris Garden

Discover the beautiful Inner Garden and Iris Garden inside Meiji Jingu Shrine. These gardens are known for their lovely iris flowers, especially in June when they bloom in bright purple and blue. It's a great spot for people who love nature and taking photos.

Explore the Meiji Jingu Museum

Don't miss the Meiji Jingu Museum if you like learning about Japanese culture and history. Here, you can see items related to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, giving you a peek into their lives and how they helped shape modern Japan. The displays include wonderfully preserved artifacts and historical items.

Experience a Traditional Shinto Wedding

If you're lucky, you might see a traditional Shinto wedding at Meiji Jingu Shrine. This ceremony is a beautiful peek into Japanese culture and old traditions, with the bride and groom in stunning outfits. It's a lovely, peaceful event with important rituals and amazing traditional clothes. These weddings show why the shrine is a place for blessings and good luck.

Make Offerings and Say Prayers

Join a traditional activity by making offerings and saying prayers at the main shrine of Meiji Jingu. This practice links you to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken to ask for blessings for your wishes. You can also buy a wooden plaque, called ema, and write your hopes and dreams on it. It's a touching way to connect with the spiritual side of the shrine.

View the Sake Barrels

A special thing to see at Meiji Jingu Shrine is the colorful collection of sake barrels along the way to the main shrine. These barrels are gifts from sake makers all over Japan, given to honor the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.