Meiji Jingu Shrine

Meiji Jingu is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Hidden within a 170-acre forest in the heart of Harajuku, entering its towering torii gates feels like stepping into another world — the noise of the city fades, replaced by birdsong and the crunch of gravel underfoot. The approach through the forested path is an experience in itself. Over 100,000 trees were donated from across Japan when the shrine was built in 1920, creating a man-made forest that now feels ancient and untouched. Keep an eye out for the wall of sake barrels and wine barrels near the entrance — gifts symbolizing the connection between Japanese and Western cultures. If you’re lucky, you might witness a traditional Shinto wedding procession crossing the shrine grounds. Write your wishes on an ema wooden plaque, or try the unique fortune-telling system here, which offers words of wisdom from Emperor Meiji’s poetry rather than typical fortune slips. The shrine is at its most magical during early morning hours when few visitors are around. On New Year’s Day, however, it becomes Japan’s most visited shrine, welcoming over three million people in the first three days of January.