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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.
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.
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20-year-old boys wear priestly Shinto robes and hats. 
From November 1-15, families with children flock to the shrine for Shichi-Go-San pictures, all dressed in their finest kimonos. 
On New Year’s Day, shrine maidens ladle out warm saké to all visitors. 
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. -
The rice straw ropes called shimenawa are draped around anything that is believed to be the home of one of the resident gods.
Before we leave, let’s take a detour to the Nai-en Garden. It has wonderful walking paths, a large pond, a famous iris garden that blooms in June, and lots of blazing azaleas in April.
Hours: 9:00 – 16:00
Open: Every day, except the third Friday of each month
Admission: ¥500
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!
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Look, a real live tanuki! Most people think they’re just characters from old legends, but here’s proof that the canids known as raccoon dogs actually exist.
Hours: 9:00 – 16:00
Treasure House: 9:00 – 16:00, open weekends and holidays only
Shrine admission: Free
Nearby destinations: Harajuku, Japan Traditional Craft Center, Shibuya, Shimo-kitazawa, Shinjuku, Yoyogi Park
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Jonelle Patrick writes mysteries set in Tokyo
