Travel Guide to Meiji Shrine ︳Tokyo

Meiji Shrine is tucked away in a luxuriant forest where Tokyoites can take a breath from their heavy duties with walks through the serene path, and traditional Japanese weddings take place through the courtyard. We spent a morning walking through the path, watching the engaged couple and their family taking wedding photos in the backyard, and sitting on the grass picnicing like other Japanese do.

Passing through  the bridge outside Meiji-jingumae Station, Meiji Shrine is just across the bridge from the station with a 10 minute walk.

Passing under the torri into an evergreen forest with serenity, the torii seems to lead us into another world.

The path to the shrine is lined with a wall of barrels of wine and sake, the latter is donated from well-know producers in Japan.

Like in all the other shrines, write down your prayers on the Ema (絵馬), and the Ema will be hung up at the shrine where the spirits receive your prayers.

The photographers are taking photos of the groom and his family, the groom has to dress in the formal black robe while his family can choose their preferred dressing.

After both families finish their family photograph, they will have a whole family photograph all together.

There’s a budokan at Meiji Jingu, where ceremonies and competitions of Japanese martial art take place.

Apart from the business districts of Tokyo like Shinjuku, Ginza, crows can be found cawing in Tokyo’s green areas.

If you want to sit and have picnics in Tokyo, Meiji Shrine offers a cosy environment with trees and wonderful grass field, you can just sit there, having your sandwiches and watching kids playing around.

The budokan, Shiseikan is where martial art is trained, it’s a 15 minute walk from Meiji Shrine.

The Treasure Museum which holds some of the Emperor’s treasures.

The glass windows reflect the ancient trees vividly, like an indoor forest.