Meiji Shrine (明治神宮) is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji, Japan’s first modern emperor, and his consort, Empress Shoken. The shrine is located right next to the lively Harajuku area.

The entrance is marked by a massive torii gate, followed by a peaceful forest of around 100,000 trees, planted during the shrine’s construction and donated from across Japan.

Meiji Shrine is one of the most popular shrines in the country. During the first days of the New Year, more than three million visitors come here to pray for a good year, more than at any other shrine in Japan. Throughout the year, and with a bit of luck, you might also witness traditional Shinto weddings taking place on the grounds.

In the southern area, there is a paid garden that becomes especially popular in mid-June, when irises are in bloom. The garden also features a small well called Kiyomasa no Ido, named after the military commander who dug it about 400 years ago. The well has been visited by the Emperor and is considered a popular spiritual “power spot.”