# Meiji Jingu, Tokyo > Meiji Jingu is Tokyo's leading Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It stands in a 70-hectare forest right by Harajuku station: a 10-minute avenue under giant wooden torii gates leads to the main hall. Entry is free and it's open every day from sunrise to sunset — in November 6:10 to 16:10. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/meiji-jingu - City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan - YesGo score: 50/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, every day - Hours: Sunrise to sunset; November 6:10–16:10 - Some facilities: Usually 9:00–16:00 - Forest: ≈ 70 ha, about 120,000 trees - Inner Garden: Gyoen with its irises — paid - From Harajuku station: ≈ 10 minutes on foot along the avenue to the main hall - Coordinates: 35.67611, 139.69917 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1920** — the year the shrine was founded (source: meijijingu.or.jp) - **70 ha** — of forest in the middle of the megacity (source: meijijingu.or.jp) - **≈ 120,000** — trees of 365 species, donated from all over Japan (source: en.wikipedia) - **Meiji and Shoken** — the emperor and empress the shrine is dedicated to (source: meijijingu.or.jp) - **Cypress and copper** — the main materials of the nagare-zukuri hall (source: en.wikipedia) - **Irises** — the Gyoen inner garden is famous for its June iris field (source: en.wikipedia) - **Sunrise–sunset** — opening hours change every month (source: meijijingu.or.jp) - **¥0** — to enter the shrine (source: meijijingu.or.jp) ## What is Meiji Jingu? **Meiji Jingu** is a Shinto shrine dedicated to **Emperor Meiji** and **Empress Shoken**, under whom Japan became a modern nation. It was founded in **1920** in Shibuya, next to Harajuku. The shrine is surrounded by a dense **70-hectare forest**: about **120,000 trees** of 365 species, donated by people from all over Japan. Step through the gates and the city noise fades. Wide gravel avenues under giant wooden **torii** lead to the main hall of Japanese cypress and copper. > **Shrine etiquette** Bow slightly before a torii gate and walk to the side rather than down the centre, which is the path of the deity. Rinse your hands and mouth at the water pavilion. At the hall, toss a coin, bow twice, clap twice and bow once more. Keep your voice down, and don't photograph wedding ceremonies up close without permission. ## How the shrine works From Harajuku station it's about **10 minutes** along a forest avenue to the main hall. On the way you pass a wall of **sake barrels** donated by breweries across Japan, and barrels of French wine. In front of the hall is a broad stone courtyard where you'll often see a traditional Shinto wedding. Entry is **free**. According to the official site, the shrine is open every day **from sunrise to sunset**, with hours changing each month: in November 6:10 to 16:10, in December 6:40 to 16:00, and in summer 5:00 to 18:00 or later. Some facilities inside usually keep 9:00–16:00. The paid **Gyoen inner garden** is famous for its iris field in June. ## What to see - **Giant wooden torii** along the avenues. - **Sake barrels** and French wine barrels by the path. - **The main hall** of cypress with a copper roof. - **The stone courtyard** — sometimes with a wedding procession. - **The Gyoen inner garden** with its iris field. - **The forest** — 120,000 trees in the middle of the city. ## How to get to Meiji Jingu 1. **JR Harajuku station** (Yamanote line) — the forest entrance is right by the station, about 10 minutes to the main hall. 2. **Meiji-jingumae metro station** (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines) — 1–2 minutes to the entrance. 3. **Yoyogi station** (JR and Oedo line) — the north entrance, about 10 minutes. 4. **From Takeshita Street** — across the road from the Takeshita exit. 5. **From Shinjuku** — one stop by JR to Yoyogi or two to Harajuku. ## Morning or midday | | Morning | Midday | | --- | --- | --- | | Crowds | Few | Busy, especially at weekends | | Forest | Cool and quiet | Crowded avenues | | Weddings | Less often | More often at weekends | | Hours | From sunrise | Until sunset — check the month | ## How long do you need? Allow **1 hour** for the shrine, about 1.5 hours with the inner garden. Come in the morning when the forest is cool and quiet, then head out to **Takeshita Street** and Omotesando. Big **Yoyogi Park** is next door. The shrine's busiest time is the first days of the New Year, when millions come for 'hatsumode', the year's first prayer. ## Is Meiji Jingu worth visiting? Yes: it's Tokyo's best-known Shinto shrine and a rare forest in the middle of a megacity, and entry is free. The YesGo take: the hall itself is plainer than many expect — the value is in the forest, the quiet and the atmosphere. Come in the morning, remember it closes around 16:00 in winter, and don't plan an evening visit. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Hours for my month — it closes at sunset - [ ] A coin for prayer - [ ] Comfortable shoes — the avenues are gravel - [ ] Quiet behaviour and respect for weddings - [ ] Takeshita Street as the next stop ## Tokyo temples: compare and choose Temples and shrines in Tokyo rated by YesGo. - [Senso-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/senso-ji) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free - [Meiji Jingu](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/meiji-jingu) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free; Gyoen garden paid - [Zojo-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/zojo-ji) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · free; gallery ¥700 - [Nezu Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/nezu-shrine) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free; azalea garden paid in spring - [Yanaka](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/yanaka) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free - [Gotoku-ji](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/gotoku-ji) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Mount Takao](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/mount-takao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · free; cable car ≈ ¥490 ## Harajuku and Shibuya in a day Meiji Jingu in the morning, Takeshita Street in the afternoon, and Shibuya Crossing in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Meiji Jingu](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/meiji-jingu) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · free; Gyoen garden paid 2. [Takeshita Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/takeshita-street) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free 3. [Shibuya Crossing](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/shibuya-crossing) — YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · free; Shibuya Sky ≈ ¥2,700–3,400 ## Good to know Meiji Jingu is the forest shrine by Harajuku; the Meiji Jingu Gaien area with its stadiums is a separate place. The emperor's grave isn't here — it's near Kyoto. ## Tips - Walk through torii at the side, not the centre. - In winter it closes around 16:00. - The forest is cool and quiet in the morning. - The sake barrels are on the way to the hall. - Across the road: [Takeshita Street](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/takeshita-street). ## Questions ### How much does Meiji Jingu cost? Entry is free; only the Gyoen inner garden charges. ### What are the opening hours? Daily from sunrise to sunset; November 6:10–16:10, December 6:40–16:00. ### Who is the shrine dedicated to? Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. ### How do I get there? From JR Harajuku station it's about 10 minutes on foot along the forest avenue to the hall. ### How do you pray? A coin, two bows, two claps and one more bow. ### Can you see a wedding? Often — in the stone courtyard before the hall, especially at weekends. ### How long do you need? About an hour, or 1.5 hours with the Gyoen garden. ### What's nearby? Takeshita Street, Omotesando and Yoyogi Park. ## How we checked Monthly opening hours, free entry, the forest area and founding year are from the shrine's official site. The number of trees, architectural style, materials and iris garden are from Wikipedia. We couldn't find the Gyoen garden fee, so we say 'paid'. Sake barrels, weddings and etiquette are from guides. We don't cover the neighbouring Jingu Gaien area. ## Sources - Meiji Jingu official site (meijijingu.or.jp) — monthly hours, free entry, 70 ha, 1920 (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Meiji Shrine — trees, style, materials, iris garden - Travel guides — sake barrels, weddings, etiquette, journey times (unofficial) - Wikidata Q287165 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.