Meiji Shrine

Wedding1 — Saturdays & Sundays are the best time to catch a wedding procession at the Meiji Shrine

The Meiji Shrine has the most spectacular weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, festivals and traditional events in town. Many people find it more beautiful than all the brightly lacquered shrines put together.

MainGate — The main gate in November, with bonsai chrysanthemums on either side of the entrance.

This is the place where Emperor Meiji and his Empress are buried. I take my friends here to see weddings, coming-of-age holidays, and festivals, because when it comes to dressing up, the Meiji Shrine does it in style.

3Kimonos — On Coming of Age Day (second Monday in January), 20-year-old girls deck themselves out in the most flamboyant and expensive kimonos they will ever own.

Ceremony — 20-year-old boys wear priestly Shinto robes and hats.

4Girls — From November 1-15, families with children flock to the shrine for Shichi-Go-San pictures, all dressed in their finest kimonos.

Amazake — On New Year’s Day, shrine maidens ladle out warm saké to all visitors.

Chrysanthemum2 — Don’t miss the big competitive chrysanthemum exhibits in November, featuring chrysanthemum bonsai and huge perfect specimens of famous varieties.

The shrine is beautiful and serene in every season, but if you’re lucky enough to be in Tokyo when it snows, run as fast as you can to the Meiji Shrine to see how gorgeous the plain cedar and gold architecture is, all shrouded in white.

Shimenawa — The rice straw ropes called shimenawa are draped around anything that is believed to be the home of one of the resident gods.

Hours: 9:00 – 16:00

Treasure House: 9:00 – 16:00, open weekends and holidays only

Shrine admission: Free

Before we leave, let’s take a detour to the Nai-en Garden. It has wonderful walking paths, a large pond, and a famous iris garden that blooms in June.

Don’t miss taking a stroll through the Mai-en Garden while you’re there, especially if it’s iris season.

The entrance to the gardens is between the second giant torii gate and the shrine buildings. If we’re lucky, we’ll see a real live tanuki there, like I did last May!

Hours: 9:00 – 16:00

Open: Every day, except the third Friday of each month

Admission: ¥500

MEIJI SHRINE MAP

Here’s more to do in the neighborhood, while you’re there:

Click here for more

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Jonelle Patrick is the author of five novels set in Japan

For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…**read more**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon

“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist

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