Meiji Jingu Shrine, Respect for Meiji Period Japan

Meiji Jingu Shrine, is like an eye in the storm called Tokyo. It is a great place to refresh your spirit and will make you feel like you have gone back in time.

When I think of Japanese shrines or temples, I often imagine them having been founded hundreds of years ago.

But Tokyo`s most popular shrine, dates back only to 1920.

After the end of the Meiji Period, Japan`s people decided to have it built to enshrine Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken who died in 1912 and 1914 respectively.

Although covering an area of approximately 170 acres, like almost everything else in Tokyo, it was destroyed due to air raids in World War II.

Surprisingly though, is the fact that traditional materials such as Japanese Cypress were used in its 1958 reconstruction, as apposed to ferro-concrete which seems to be the reconstruction material of choice in Japan.

I think it is for this reason, and the fact that surrounding the main buildings is a forrest of over 100 000 trees, that you can really loose yourself in the timeless spirit of Meiji Jingu Shrine.

If on the other hand, you want to get swept up in crowds of worshippers, go on January 1st.

What Meiji Emperor Wouldn`t Love a Good Japanese Festival?

There are many annual events, ceremonies and festivals held at Meiji Jingu.

Each New Year`s Day over 3 million people visit the shrine, more than at any other shrine in Japan. From grandfathers in suits, to little kids in kimonos and everyone in between, visitors brave the winter cold to pray for good luck for the rest of the year.

From April 29th to May 3rd there is the Spring Grand Festival which is famous for its displays of traditional theatre, dance and music.

The Autumn Grand Festival, held from November 1st to 3rd has similar traditional entertainment as the spring festival as well as martial arts, archery and horse back archery.

If you ask me, any display of shooting arrows at a target while riding a horse at full speed is very, very cool.