Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu ) is located in Shibuya, Tokyo. The meaning of the Meiji shrine is dedicated
to the deified spirits of Emper or Meiji and his wife. The shrine does not contain the emperor's grave,
which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto.


Torii of Meiji Shrine


Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 170 acres. This area is covered by an evergreen forest
that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan
when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center
of Tokyo. The shrine itself is composed of two major areas of Naien and Gaien.


(L) Temizusha, purification through a hand-washing basin (R) Ema, votive tablets for a special personal prayer

The Main Meiji Shrine

The gardens cover over 83,000 square meters of land between the main shrine buildings and Yoyogi Park.
After paying the entrance fee, visitors can enter the garden and stroll on the stone pathways leading
through scenic forests. There is a quaint tea house constructed in traditional Japanese style. There is also
a large iris garden, which is at its most beautiful in June when the flowers are in full bloom. At the center
of the garden is the South Pond, a quiet body of water filled with turtles and colorful carp. Another popular
feature of the garden is Kiyomasa's Well. It is at the mouth to the stream that runs to the South Pond. 
The Inner Gardens were initially part of the residence of Kiyomasa Kato, a powerful political and military figure
in Japanese history during the 1500s and 1600s. Though his family owned the land, it is uncertain, whether
Kato ever resided there himself. During the Meiji Period ( late 1800s-early 1900s) the gardens were taken
under control of the Japanese government and named Yoyogi Gyoen. The Meiji Emperor and Empress were
frequent visitors. Today, the Inner Gardens are also known as Meiji Jingu Gyoen. The Meiji Jingu Shrine is
a one-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station. After passing beneath the large entrance torii gate, visitors
will walk down a forested path towards the shrine. The entrance to the Inner Gardens is off the path, to the left.

A booklet of Meiji Jingu Inner Garden

(L) A trail to the South Pond (M) Azumaya (R) South Pond

(L) Kakuuntei, a tea house (R) South pond

(L) Susuki, Japanese silver grass (M) Autumn leaves (R A tea house

The Iris Garden and azumaya

A highlight of red autumn leaves

Kiyomasa's well

Torii, the shrine gate and main shrine building

A booklet of Meiji Jingu Museum

(L) Yabusame demonstration in 2001, when President visited Meiji Jingu shrine.
(R) Shinto priests and maidens wear traditional dress in preparation for a wedding at the Meiji Shrine.

Torii leading to the Meiji Shrine complex and ginko's autumn leaves


The 150-year Forest Project of Meiji Shrine

In the heart of Tokyo, bristling with skyscrapers, there is a forest 700,000 square meters in area located on the site
of Meiji Jingu shrine. The forest is mainly composed of evergreen broadleaf trees, such as chinquapin, oak and
camphor, and provides habitat to many wild birds.

This forest was created about 100 years ago as a project with a 150-year vision. It was planted with the cooperation
of about 110,000 volunteers, who planted some 100,000 trees of 365 different species donated by people throughout
the nation. The practice of creating shrine forests has its basis in traditional Japanese thought and concepts of nature.
They build Shinto shrines to offer respect and veneration to these deities. The sacred forests surrounding these
shrines, that were called 'forests of tutelary shrines,' have been protected over long periods of several hundred to
over a thousand years, and it is forbidden to pick even a single leaf off a tree without reason. History of the project
dates back to July 1912, when Emperor Meiji passed away. After it was decided to build his mausoleum in Kyoto, the
ancient Imperial has seated for more than 1,000 years, Tokyo citizens asked the government to build a Shinto shrine
in Tokyo to commemorate his virtues and offer veneration. Consequently, it was decided that a shrine commemorating
Emperor Meiji would be built in Yoyogi in Tokyo. Following this decision, in 1915 several leading experts in forest
scientist and landscape architecture launched the shrine-forest-project, creating a Forest with Trees-Donated from
the entire area of Japan.

It was decided that the many trees necessary to create the forest would be collected through donation from over the
nation. The project team discussed which tree species should be planted as the dominant components of the forest,
which was to cover an extensive area, in order to create a setting appropriate for the majestic shrine buildings. As
many as 95,559 trees of 365 species were donated. In 150 years, the forest was supposed to be composed entirely
of evergreen broad-leaved trees such as oak, chinquapin and camphor.


The forest in the center of Metropolitan Tokyo

Explore the forest of Meiji Shrine

Official Site of Meiji Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine, Mie
　Inner Garden of Imperial Palace in spring time
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Cat-tram
　Tokyo Metropolis mini-tour
At which hotel, would you like to stay in Tokyo?


Tokyo should rethink plan to cut down historical trees for redevelopment project
明治神宮外苑の再開発計画の撤回を 2023

H
Smoking Restriction at Hotels in the World: Actual Survey
The ratio of a smoking guest room to the total hotel rooms was calculated,
based on-the-spot investigation.


　明治神宮および内苑
執筆　医学博士　宮本順伯
★ This Web site is link-free.
References: Wikipedia, Japan Travel Guide and JFS sites
This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The article was written and photographs were taken in December 2016, by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
A few photos taken in April 2016 were also included.
An information about Meiji Museum was added in May 2023.
Copyright (C) 2016 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.