Meiji Jingu

明治神宮

A towering wooden torii and a 70-hectare forest next to Harajuku Station

Hours

Sunrise to sunset: Oct 5:40–16:40, Nov 6:10–16:10, Dec 6:40–16:00 (official site). Some facilities 9:00–16:00

Tickets

Free (inner garden and museum charge separately)

Address

1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku

Cross one bridge from the Harajuku ticket gates and the noise drops away under a tunnel of tall trees. The gravel crunches as you pass a few giant wooden torii, and it's about ten minutes to the main hall. Along the path, sake barrels donated by breweries from all over Japan are stacked like a wall, with a row of French wine casks opposite, and both draw a crowd of cameras. On weekend mornings a traditional wedding procession may cross the main courtyard. The shrine honours Emperor Meiji, and many visitors treat the grounds simply as a forest walk.