Meiji Jingu — The Sacred Forest Shrine and Mausoleum of Emperor Meiji

In the middle of one of the world's most densely populated cities, Meiji Jingu stands within a 70-hectare artificial forest of 120,000 trees donated from across Japan and planted by 110,000 volunteers over three years following Emperor Meiji's death in 1912. The shrine, completed in 1920, enshrines the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken — the imperial couple who oversaw Japan's transformation from feudal isolation to modern nation-state. More than a century after its creation, the forest has matured into an extraordinarily diverse woodland of 364 tree species that creates, within the heart of the metropolis, a sanctuary of authentic natural calm.

Highlights

The approach through the Meiji Jingu forest is among the finest transitional experiences in Tokyo — a gradual journey from the urban density of Harajuku and Shibuya into a world governed by the rhythms of wind, birds, and the slow growth of trees. The three massive wooden torii gates on the main approach, each crafted from 1,500-year-old Taiwanese cypress, scale with the forest rather than competing with it, their dark, weathered forms providing punctuation marks along a path that feels genuinely sacred. The sound of the city disappears within minutes of entering the forest, replaced by birdsong and the soft crunch of gravel underfoot.

The main shrine complex opens into a large gravel courtyard with the imposing main hall (honden) at its far end, its copper-roofed architecture in the Nagare-zukuri style restrained and dignified — a deliberate contrast to the flamboyant Toshogu tradition it implicitly rejects. The inner garden (Gyoen), accessible for a small fee, represents Emperor Meiji's private iris garden and is famous for its 1,500 iris plants that bloom in late June, a display the emperor is said to have loved above all other flowers. The garden also contains a well used by Emperor Meiji and a spring-fed pond of great tranquility.

Meiji Jingu is the most visited Shinto shrine in Japan during the New Year holiday, with over three million visitors arriving in the first three days of January to make their hatsumode prayers — a crowd so vast it must be channeled through timed entry corridors, yet somehow the forest absorbs even this volume without losing its fundamental atmosphere of peace.

Getting There & Tips

- Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) is the closest station, directly beside the main southern approach - The shrine grounds are free to enter; the inner garden charges approximately ¥500 for adults - The forest walk between the outer torii and the main shrine takes approximately 10-15 minutes each way - New Year visits require arriving early or late in the day to manage the crowds - Adjacent Yoyogi Park and the Harajuku shopping district make excellent complements for a full day's visit

Best Time to Visit

New Year (January 1-3) is the most traditional time to visit for hatsumode, though the crowds are extreme. Late June brings the iris blooms in the inner garden. Autumn evenings offer a particularly beautiful forest walk when the light filters through the canopy at low angles. The shrine is peaceful and worthwhile at any time of year, with early morning offering the most contemplative atmosphere.