★★★★★ 5.0
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Meiji Jingu
Over 100,000 trees surround you right now - that's like planting a tree for every person in a massive stadium! Each one was gifted from different corners of Japan when this shrine was built in 1920. You're standing in busy Shibuya next to wild Harajuku Station, yet this feels like a secret forest kingdom. Emperor Meiji himself chose these iris varieties - 1,500 plants that paint everything purple and lavender every June! After World War Two bombs destroyed it all, Japan spent what equals 26 million dollars today rebuilding this magical place in 1958. Can you spot the birds hiding in these donated trees from across the entire country?
Did You Know?
- Meiji Jingu is not just a shrine, but a vast urban forest: Over 100,000 trees from across Japan were donated and planted to create the shrine’s lush, tranquil grounds, making it a rare green oasis in the heart of bustling Tokyo and a symbol of national unity, as people from every prefecture contributed to its creation.
- The shrine’s main buildings were originally destroyed in World War II air raids and painstakingly rebuilt in 1958 using traditional nagare-zukuri architectural style, featuring Japanese cypress and copper roofing—a testament to both Japan’s resilience and its dedication to preserving cultural heritage.
- Meiji Jingu hosts one of Japan’s most vibrant Shinto festivals, the Hatsumode, when millions visit during the first days of the New Year to pray for good fortune, making it one of the busiest and most culturally significant events in Tokyo—fun for families to experience traditional rituals, food stalls, and festive crowds.