Meiji Shrine: How to Get There, How Long to Stay and What to Know

Meiji Shrine, or Meiji Jingu, sits in a large forest of broadleaf and evergreen trees in the heart of Tokyo, beside Harajuku and Yoyogi Park. It was built to honour Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken and founded in 1920, and the surrounding forest was planted with trees donated from across the country. The short answer is that it suits anyone wanting a change of pace from Harajuku's bustle, takes one to two hours, and is best visited in the morning.

Highlights

• The large wooden torii that forms the main entrance
• The gravel path beneath the trees leading to the main hall
• The walls of donated sake and wine barrels, a favourite photo spot
• The wall of ema wooden prayer plaques written in many languages
• The inner garden with Kiyomasa's Well, which normally has a separate entry fee

How to get there

The easiest way is Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line, whose exit faces the shrine entrance, or Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines, which is also close. To approach from the Shinjuku side, go to Yoyogi or Sangubashi and enter through a gate on that side, which is calmer than the busiest entrance. Pick the gate that suits your hotel side to save time.

Hours and tickets

Entering the shrine normally needs no ticket, while the inner garden has its own entry fee and separate hours. Shrine opening times follow the daylight of each month, so they shift through the year. Exact prices and times must be taken from the official website. Traditional weddings are often held at weekends and are fascinating to see, but keep a respectful distance.

How many hours to allow

The walk from the entrance gate to the main hall takes roughly ten to twenty minutes, depending on the side you come from. With time to pray, see the barrels and walk back, count on one to two hours. Add the inner garden and a stroll toward Yoyogi Park and it easily becomes half a day. Do not rush, since calm is the point.

A few manners help at any Shinto shrine. Bow lightly before passing under a torii gate, walk toward the edge of the path rather than down the centre, which is traditionally the route of the deity, and rinse your hands and mouth at the purification fountain before approaching the main hall. The common way to pray is two bows, two claps and one more bow. If you are unsure, watch the people around you or simply stand quietly; staff understand that visitors are unfamiliar with the custom. Keeping your voice low and your manner polite matters more than getting every step exactly right.

Best time to go

Morning is the quietest and the light in the forest is at its best. Around New Year the shrine draws some of the largest numbers of worshippers in the country, making movement difficult, so it is not for those seeking calm. A light rain gives an atmospheric walk, but bring an umbrella and shoes with grip.

Nearby

Harajuku's Takeshita Street is just across from the station, a youth-oriented lane of fashion and sweets, while Omotesando is a tree-lined avenue of brand boutiques, and Yoyogi Park adjoins the shrine for an easy stroll. Shibuya is not far and can be reached on foot or by a short train ride.

Tips

• Bow slightly before passing under a torii and walk at the side of the path rather than the centre
• Rinse your hands and mouth at the purification fountain before praying
• Pray in the Shinto manner: two bows, two claps and one more bow
• Do not photograph ceremonies or worshippers up close

A common slip is underestimating the walk through the forest and arriving in unsuitable shoes. Another is mixing up a shrine with a temple, since the manner of prayer differs: a shrine is Shinto and uses bows and claps rather than Buddhist-style prayer.

Opening a map in a large forest and translating Japanese signs both need data. An eSIM installed before the trip lets you walk with less worry.

जापान के eSIM प्लान देखें

सामान्य प्रश्न