Meiji Jingū (明治神宮, Meiji Shrine) is a Shinto shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. It was constructed in 1920.
- Over 100,000 trees were donated from across Japan and planted by volunteers, creating the lush forest.
- Features one of Japan’s largest wooden torii gates. It stands 12 meters tall and is made from 1,500-year-old cypress wood from Taiwan.
- Along the approach, you’ll see a display of colorful sake barrels (offered by brewers across Japan) and wine barrels (from France). The wine symbolizes Emperor Meiji’s embrace of Western culture, while sake represents Shinto tradition.
- Though dedicated to Emperor Meiji, his body is not buried here - it’s in Kyoto. The shrine honors his spirit, not his remains - a typical feature of Shinto practice.