Attraction
Senso-ji
Tokyo's oldest and most visited Buddhist temple, reached through the Kaminarimon gate and the shop-lined Nakamise approach in historic Asakusa.
Meiji Jingu
A major Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, set in a large man-made forest beside Harajuku and Yoyogi Park.
At a glance
- Type
- Shinto shrine
- Area
- Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan
- Official site
- meijijingu.or.jp
- Last checked
- October 23, 2026
Good to know
- Free entry
- Open every day
Why we recommend it
Meiji Jingu is one of Tokyo's most important Shinto shrines, honouring Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The original buildings were completed in 1920 and rebuilt in 1958 after wartime bombing, and they sit inside a deliberately planted forest that now feels remarkably wild for a site steps from Harajuku Station. Huge wooden torii gates mark the gravel paths leading to the main sanctuary.
Entry is free and the shrine opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, so the timings shift by month; check the official visiting page before you go. Arrive early in the day for the quietest walk through the woods, and look out for wedding processions at weekends. Some inner facilities keep shorter hours. The south entrance is a short walk from JR Harajuku and Meiji-jingumae stations, making it easy to pair with Omotesando.
Reviewed by Lifestylemetro · Details checked October 23, 2026
Meiji Jingu FAQs
How much does it cost to visit?
Visiting the shrine is free and it is open every day of the year.
What are the opening hours?
Sunrise to sunset; for example, 5:40 to 16:40 in October and 6:10 to 16:10 in November, according to the shrine.