Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) Guide

The main hall (Honden) of Meiji Jingu stands at the end of the long gravel approach through the forested grounds. Built in the traditional Nagare-zukuri Shinto architectural style using Japanese cypress (hinoki), the current structure dates to 1958 after the originals were destroyed in WWII bombing raids. The spacious courtyard in front of the main hall allows visitors to observe the Shinto ritual of clapping twice, bowing, and making an offering. On weekends, the steady procession of worshippers maintains a reverent atmosphere even amid tourist foot traffic. Traditional Shinto wedding processions cross the courtyard most Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Open daily sunrise to sunset (approx. 5:40am–6:20pm depending on season). Entry free. Main approach is a 10-minute walk from the south Harajuku gate. Silence and respectful dress expected.

The Great Torii gate at the southern entrance of Meiji Jingu is one of the largest wooden torii in Japan, standing 12 meters high with a 17-meter crossbeam, constructed from 1,500-year-old hinoki cypress timber from Alishan Mountain in Taiwan. The gate frames the beginning of the forest approach and is the most photographed element of the shrine. A secondary torii deeper in the approach (the Ni-no Torii) is smaller but architecturally striking against the backdrop of mature cedar trees. Both are ideal photography subjects in early morning mist or late afternoon golden light.

The main torii is at the south (Harajuku) entrance, 2 min from Harajuku Station. Open 24 hours from outside. Best photographed in morning light (east-facing) or in autumn foliage (mid-November).

The inner garden of Meiji Jingu was originally part of a feudal lord's garden before it was incorporated into the shrine grounds. It features a traditional strolling garden with a kiyomasa well (said to have been dug by the samurai lord Kato Kiyomasa in the early 17th century), ponds, and the famous iris garden containing about 150 varieties of iris. Emperor Meiji's consort Empress Shoken particularly loved this garden — it retains a romantic, meditative atmosphere quite different from the main shrine approach. The iris blooms peak in mid-June and draw enormous crowds specifically for that spectacle.

Open daily 9am–4:30pm (closed 3rd Friday of each month). Entry ¥500. Separate entrance from main shrine (signposted). Iris bloom season: late May to mid-June. Allow 30–45 min.

The Treasure Museum within the Meiji Jingu inner complex houses over 80 items that belonged to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken — including imperial carriages, ceremonial garments, calligraphy, furniture, and personal objects from their daily lives. The collection offers a remarkable window into the Meiji era (1868–1912), Japan's dramatic modernization period when the country transformed from feudal isolation to a modern imperial power within a single generation. The museum building itself, constructed in 1921 in a hybrid Japanese-Western architectural style, is worth examining as an artifact of the era it commemorates.

Open Fri–Wed 10am–4pm (closed Thu). Entry ¥1,000 adults, ¥500 children. Signposted from the main shrine approach. Photography restrictions inside. Allow 30–45 min.

The outer garden of Meiji Jingu, about 1km east of the main shrine in Aoyama, is a public sports and park precinct that includes the famous Ginkgo Avenue (Icho Namiki) — a 300-meter boulevard lined with 146 ginkgo trees that turn brilliant gold in mid-November, creating one of Tokyo's most celebrated autumn foliage scenes. The outer garden also contains the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery (Seitoku Kinen Kaigakan), which houses 80 paintings documenting Emperor Meiji's life, the Olympic main stadium site, and various sports facilities. The combination of the historic avenue and the gallery makes it a worthwhile half-day destination in autumn.

Open 24 hours (outdoor areas). Entry free. Ginkgo avenue peak foliage: typically Nov 15–30. Nearest station: Gaiemmae (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line). Gallery entry ¥1,000. 15 min walk or subway from main shrine.