Meiji Shrine
Tokyo's grandest Shinto shrine, hidden in a man-made forest beside Harajuku.
The call
Worth it if you are watching the budget and you only have one day.
Why
- 01
You walk under towering wooden torii through a deep, quiet forest and the city noise just drops away — a real reset in the middle of Tokyo.
Our read - 02
The shrine buildings themselves are understated, so people expecting spectacle can leave underwhelmed; the walk is the point.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to Tokyo
The calm Shinto counterpoint to Senso-ji, and right beside Harajuku for an easy pairing.
You are watching the budget
On a budget, Meiji Shrine still earns its price.
You only have one day
Even on a tight schedule, Meiji Shrine earns the hours.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, Meiji Shrine works.
Think twice if
You care about the visual experience
For beauty & photography, Meiji Shrine is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free (inner garden ¥500)
- Timing
- Early morning or weekday; New Year draws ~3 million in three days
- Booking
- No ticket for the shrine; inner garden is ¥500 on the day
- Allow
- 1.5 hrs
- Accessibility
- Wide flat gravel paths; long walking distance from entrance
- Getting there
- Steps from Harajuku Station (JR) or Meiji-jingumae Station
Consider instead
Sources and method (2)
- Built in a man-made forest of about 100,000 trees donated from across Japan; completed and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken in 1920. japan-guide.com ↗
- Japan's most-visited shrine for New Year hatsumode, regularly drawing more than 3 million worshippers in the first days of the year. en.activityjapan.com ↗