Meiji Jingu

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.