To get to Meiji Jingu, access from Harajuku on JR line or Meiji Jingu-mae on metro.

If you come from Harajuku station, get out of Omote-sando exit

Walf straight from the exit, there is a exit of Meiji Jingu-mae station. If you come from this station, exit 2 will be your exit.

Turn right on the first coner.

The bridge you're walking on above the railroads of JR Yamanote lines is called "Sangu-bashi bridge"

An old and rarely seen payphone at the end of the bridge.

Passing the payphone, right there is the first torii.

Best time to visit Iris Garden is around mid to late June.

Map of Meiji Jingu. The shrine seems like a large wood.

Iris Garden is located in Gyoen. In June, it opens 08:00-17:30 on weekdays and 08:00-18:30 on weekends.( Entry 30 mins before closing). From July, it opens 09:00-17:30.

Passing the torii

a Japanese style stone bridge.

A small stream runs underneath.

Found a tree fenced.

This tree is named "Yoyogi." The city's name, "Yoyogi," came from the fact where there were many fir tree in this area. Yoyogi literally means a tree or trees that live for generations.

A short walk from the yoyogi leads you to an entrance of Gyoen.

You see a sign which says Kiyomasa-ido. And you are at the right place.

Meiji Jingu Gyoen. It was owned by the Katos and the Iis. And In Meiji Period, the Imperial Household Agency started their management in the garden. And the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken visit the garden frequently.

Ticket office. 500 yen for a person.

The ticket's design comes from iris.

Into the Gyoen.

Route for Iris Garden and Kiyomasa's Well

Approaching "Otsuri-dai" (Fishing Spot)

Pathway to Fishing Spot

Fishing Spot was built by the order of His Majesty Emperor Meiji. Her Majesty Empress Shoken frequently enjoyed fishing at the Spot.

Tortoises and carps are swimming in the pond.

Water lilies seen in the distance. This pond is called "nan-chi."(South Pond) South Pond is the pond (the source of which is the Kiyomasa-ido spring) with an area of about 8,000 square meters(86,111 square feet). The scenery of pond lilies is summer is the best to observe and in winter people can see a paradise of water fowls.

South Pond is so large.

On the back of South Pond, Kakuun-tei stands on the hill.

Going up the road, there is Kakuun-tei

Kakuun-tei (Tea house) was built by the order of His Majesty the Emperor Meiji for Her Majesty the Empress Shoken in 1900. As the building was burnt down by the war damage, so in the autumn of 1958 the present building was reconstructed.

Back to the South Pond, heading for Iris Garden.

Iris Gareden built by the order of the Emperor Meiji. There are about 1500 iris plants of 150 different kinds of irises in the Iris Garden.

It is South Pond ehen you look back.

Iris

Beautidul iris garden.

Azuma-ya.

The view from Azuma-ya.

Ways to distinguish kinds of irises.

Through the Iris Garden and on the way to Kiyomasa-ido

Kiyomasa's Well is downstairs.

The Kiyomasa's Well was first belonged to Lord Kiyomasa Kato during Edo Period. This well is the fountainhead of South Pond and the pure water gushes out in a steady flow all the year around. This well is famous for the ingenious way of sinking and the superiority of water's quality.

Leave the garden out of the East Gate. You can also go out of the North Gate. Go left after exit come out of the East Gate.

Treasure Museum Annex, souvenir shop, place to have a break in this area.

Mori, the souvenir shop.

Treasure Museum Annex

Rest House

Cosult here if you are interested in throwing a wedding.

Back on the track, on the sideways there are barrels of sake wrapped in straw offered every year by sake brewers.

Provenance of the Bourgogne Wine for Consecration at Meiji Jingu on the other side. This happened because the Emperor Meiji led the way in promoting modernization by embracing many features of western culture in his personal life. And one is that His Majesty set an example by taking western food and in particular by enjoying wine with it.

Go ahead on the way to the main shrine.

Then Otorii (the grand shrine-gate) comes to your sight. This is the biggest wooden torii of the myojin style in Japan, rebuilt in 1975 and modeled both in form and size exactly after the original built in 1920. The material wood used is "hinoki" (Japan cypress), 1500 years old from Mt. Tendai-san Taiwan.

Walking along the way and you have got to the entrance of the main shrine.

Looking to the right.

Temizuya on the right. Purify your body before entering the shrine,

Now you know the drill right? In case you don't know, check our article.

It is a water for purification son don't try to throw your coins in the water, PLEASE!

It says it is a lodging house. But is it? or it is a FORMER lodging house?

Before the gate, on the left stands a builing serving with omikuji (random fortunes written on strips of paper) and omamori (Japanese amulets, charms or talismans).

Gate to the main shrine.

Doors on the gate look very heavy and big!

Lanterns on the gate.

Entering the gate, this is a pathway to the main shrine. Sumo grand champion "ring entering" ceremonies are held here.

Camphor trees on the left. These trees are dedicated in the time to be enshrined in 1920. They are known as trees of husband and wife. The trees symbolize to matchmaking, matrimonial happiness, and the well‐being of family.

Worship at the main shrine. Two bows, two claps and another bow in the end.

Make and write down a wish on an ema!

Kaguraden is in the east. Services of prayers are done for the well‐being of family, physically well-being, and prosperous business etc.

Get out of a torii in the east, and walk along the way to the right. That leads you for Harajuku station.

This notice is found at the first torii. It says the following actions are NOT allowed to do in the property. 1. Hide a horse-drawn vehicle into the property. 2. Hunt birds or fish. 3. Cut down a tree.