Inner Worship Hall
Haiden (Worship Hall)Important Cultural Property
At a Glance
Meiji Jingū (明治神宮, Meiji Shrine) is a major Shintō shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. It is a central site of modern imperial-era Shintō and a key ceremonial location in the capital. The shrine is commemorative; Emperor Meiji’s actual grave is at Fushimi-momoyama near Kyoto.
Construction began after the emperor’s death (1912) and the empress’s death (1914), with the shrine completed and dedicated in 1920 during the Taishō period. The original buildings were destroyed in World War II air raids and rebuilt in 1958 using traditional techniques. The surrounding evergreen forest was planted in the 1910s–1920s as an official reforestation project and has matured into a large urban woodland.
Visitors enter through large wooden torii and walk gravel paths to the Naien (Inner Precinct), which contains the main worship complex: the Haiden (main hall for worship) and Honden (inner sanctuary) within a walled courtyard. Adjacent facilities include the Kaguraden for sacred music and dance, the Juyosho for amulets, and the Geihinkan (Meiji Kinenkan) ceremonial hall used for state-related functions and weddings. The Gaien (Outer Precinct) includes Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery (Meiji Kinenkan art collection) and sports facilities built in the early Shōwa era.
Meiji Jingū is one of Tokyo’s most visited shrines, especially during Hatsumōde (New Year’s visits) and Shichi-Go-San. It is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is not part of a designated pilgrimage route, but it holds Important Cultural Properties and serves as a major venue for national Shintō rites. The shrine precinct hosts regular Shintō ceremonies, traditional weddings, seasonal festivals, and exhibitions linked to Meiji-era modernization.
The shrine does not house the emperor's tomb, which is situated at Fushimi-Momoyama, south of Kyoto.
In 1920, the community voluntarily planted 100,000 trees to honor Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken after their passing.
The sacred forest covers 70 hectares (170 acres) with 120,000 trees of 365 species, donated from across Japan at the shrine's founding.
Meiji Jingu's unique omikuji, "Oomikokoro," is not fortune-telling; it presents 30 poems—15 by Emperor Meiji and 15 by Empress Shoken—with commentary.
The divine spirits venerated at this sacred place
Bustling
Thorough (90+ minutes)
Kita-sando Station
Yoyogi Station
Meiji-jingumae Station
Harajuku Station
21 structures on the grounds
Facilities
Shopping
Fascinating facts about this place
The shrine does not house the emperor's tomb, which is situated at Fushimi-Momoyama, south of Kyoto.
In 1920, the community voluntarily planted 100,000 trees to honor Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken after their passing.
The sacred forest covers 70 hectares (170 acres) with 120,000 trees of 365 species, donated from across Japan at the shrine's founding.
Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture