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Exploring The ‪Meiji‬ ‪Shrine‬ In ‪‎Shibuya‬ ‪‎Tokyo‬ ‪

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Shrine

Exploring The Meiji Shrine In Tokyo

Meiji Shrine or Meiji Jingu Shrine is 175 acres of beauty to explore. It is calming and inviting.  Located in busy Shibuya Tokyo, it is an island of paradise in the midst of a major metropolitan area. Outside are loud noises, cars, and busy city streets. Once you enter the first gate or torii, you enter a lush dense forest that blocks out all the sounds of this Japanese Metropolis. Meiji Shrine is nestled among over 100,000 trees and is a peaceful retreat. As you explore this magnificent Shrine, you will find trees from every part of the world. Welcome to Meiji Shrine, an oasis in the midst of the city.

As you walk into Meiji Shrine, your exploration begins. Breath in the fresh air. Enjoy the calming atmosphere of this magnificent forest. Walking the many paths, you will marvel at the unique and extraordinary trees from around the world. As the peace and calmness of this Shinto Shrine envelops your spirit, your soul becomes calm.  Your heart will begin to experience the long needed vacation from the rat race.

In the midst of the Shrine is the magnificent Iris garden that Empress Shoken used to visit regularly. She loved the garden in June when the Iris were all in bloom. In the midst of the garden is a small well where you can relax and enjoy nature. It is named Kiyomasa Spring, named for the military leader that commissioned her to be built over 400 years ago. The faithful consider this well a source of power. Many come here to pray. Others come to remember the spiritual history of this place. Still others will come to meditate. They come here to remember Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. To the Japanese, this is the most famous of the Shinto Shrines.

While walking along the tranquil paths of the Shrine, you will notice enormous barrels of Sake. The Sake was donated by Meiji Jingu Nationwide Sake Brewers Association. On the other side of the path you will see large barrels of wine that have arrived all the way from France. 

The Meiji Shrine is a most popular place for traditional Shinto weddings to take place. If you visit on a Sunday you will often see the marriage parade as they walk from one building to another. What a peaceful place for a wedding. The beautiful traditional roofs on the different buildings add to the beauty of the day.

Take some time and explore the Yoyogi Park, home to the 1964 World Olympics. Yoyogi National Stadium was built expressly for those games. Yoyogi National Stadium remains a National Landmark.

Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji ascended the throne when he was only 15. A wise leader, he led the Japanese into a time of industrialization, and modernization. Japan, under his leadership, became Westernized. They soon took their seat among the world powers.

While in Tokyo, be sure to set aside a few hours for the exploration of Meiji Shrine. It is indeed an island of paradise in the midst of the city.
LOCATION
1-1 Yoyogi Kamizonocho
Shibuya-ku
Tokyo
151-8557
Tel: 03 3320 5700

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Unlocking the oasis at Meiji-Jingu Shrine

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Meiji-Jingu Shrine

Meiji-Jingu Shrine In Tokyo

Nestled in serene and beautiful Shibuya, Tokyo you will find the Meiji-Jingu Shrine. This simple but extremely attractive Shrine is exclusively devoted to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. The Meiji-Jingu Shrine and the beautiful Yoyogi Park are an oasis in one of the world’s busiest cities. The beautiful grounds of the Meiji-Jingu Shrine is beautifully forested. The Shrine grounds has many  pleasant walking paths. It is the perfect place for a nice relaxing stroll. Indeed, Yoyogi Park and the Meiji-Jingu Shrine is an oasis for the Japanese. Many business men and women find this the perfect place to unwind from a busy day at the office.

Emperor Meiji was the first of the modern emperors. During the years he sat on the throne, Japan modernized and became very westernized. Under his leadership, Japan joined the world’s major powers. Indeed, she had become a modern nation in a modern world. The shrine was completed in 1920, just eight years after the death of the Emperor. During World War II the Meiji-Jingu Shrine was completely destroyed. It was very quickly re-built after the war.

The main buildings of the Shrine are located about mid-way between the Northern entrance and the Southern entrance. It is a short 10-15 minute walk from either gate. The Northern entrance is located very close to the Yoyogi Transit Station. The Southern gate is conveniently close to the Harajuku Transit Station. Entrance into the shrine is through a beautiful and massive gate. Once you have entered Meiji-Jingu Shrine, the busy city is left behind. You will feel nothing but harmony. It is a place of tranquility. You have just entered a Shrine with over 100,000 trees. This is a very reverent and tranquil forest. This beautiful forest was planted during the construction of the Shrine and park. There are trees here from all over the world. These trees are almost 100 years old. There is nothing but contentment once you enter through the gate.

Once you arrive in the center of the Shrine you will see the Meiji-Jingu Treasure House. Here you will find many personal belongings to the Emperor and Empress. You will even see the carriage that faithfully carried them on all official business excursions. Next to the Treasure House you will find a museum which is home to many temporary exhibits. By rotating the exhibits regularly, there is always fresh things to see and learn at the museum.

Many visitors to the shrine come to take part in many different Shinto activities. One of the activities that is offered is shop to buy charms and amulets. They can also make offerings in the main area. There is also a place for writing out their needs and desires for the future. These are called an ema.

When you come to the Shrine, you might want to check out the beautiful Iris garden. It is magnificent! The Iris garden is in full bloom during June. It is a very special place to many of the Shinto faithful. The main spiritual place in the garden is the area around the well. There is a small admission charge to the garden.

When in Tokyo, be sure to ditch the crowds. Spend some peaceful moments at the Meiji-Jingu Shrine and Yoyogi Park. Think of it as an opportunity to discover peace in the center of the city.

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