Experts' Choice Award Meiji Jingu Shrine
What the experts agree on
Tokyo's most revered Shinto shrine, honoring Emperor and Empress Meiji, offers a wooded, tranquil escape through towering torii gates—a striking contrast to the bustling Harajuku crowds just outside.
“A wonderful spot for photos, the mammoth entrance gates (torii), rising 40 feet high, are made from 1,700-year-old cypress trees from Mt. Ari in Taiwan.”
– Fodor's
Concierge "The shrine is an impressive sight—austere wooden buildings surrounded by greenery."
Travel + Leisure "On New Year's Day, eat osechi (a special feast of seafood and vegetables) and join the happy crowds huddling outside the Meiji-Jingu Shrine to get good tidings." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"One of the most important Shinto buildings in Tokyo and it is where newly-weds come to seek spiritual transformation ... access is via a majestic gate." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Meiji Shrine, a peaceful, wooded haven dedicated to Emperor Meiji (1852-1912)." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken are enshrined here at one of the city's most famous sacred sites." Full review
National Geographic "Tokyo's grandest Shinto shrine; located in a forest in the middle of the city; a prime spot for traditional weddings." Full review
Departures "The two enormous Japanese cypress torii (shrine gates) that guard the grounds are particular highlights—and they teem with tourists accordingly—but the site is serene and worth a visit." Full review
On the Grid "The Meiji Shrine was built in honor of Emperor Meiji, the 19th-century emperor who opened Japan to the West." Full review
The Telegraph "In typical Tokyo style, one of the city’s most peaceful forest shrines is just a stone’s throw from the 21st-century Harajuku crowds." Full review
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Wear comfortable shoes if possible, avoid taking baby strollers (the path is long and gravelly), and once you arrive, look out for silent wedding processions led by the billowing white kimono of a Shinto bride.
Afar Magazine "The serenity of the Meiji Jingu Shrine is a notable contrast to the crowds of Harajuku hipsters just beyond the giant torii gates." Full review
