Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu), Tokyo: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Meiji Shrine sits within a 70-hectare forest in central Tokyo, between Shibuya and Shinjuku, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken upon its completion in 1920. The shrine's forest was planted with roughly 100,000 trees donated from across Japan, creating an evergreen canopy that blocks out the surrounding city. A 12-meter-tall torii gate made of 1,500-year-old cypress from Taiwan marks the main approach. The shrine draws approximately 3 million visitors during the first three days of January for hatsumōde, the largest New Year gathering at any shrine in Japan. is just one of many options in Tokyo. Major attractions worth considering include Cat Street Tokyo, DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, and National Museum of Western Art.