明治神宮 Meiji Jingu (December. 2019-No.30）

Meiji Jingu is a shrine in Shibuya-Ward, Tokyo, dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The shrine, which covers about 73 hectares, was owned by the Hikone Domain, a powerful daimyo during the Edo period. In 1874, the Meiji government purchased it from the Ii family of the former Hikone clan, making it the property of the Emperor's family. The moment has come to build a shrine around Tokyo citizens to worship the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken (昭憲皇太后）. It is said that more than 10,000 ordinary people from all over the country worked voluntarily to build the shrine. It is said that more than 10,000 ordinary people from all over the country worked voluntarily to build the shrine. The shrine was completed in 1920.

Meiji Jingu is located in the center of Tokyo and has a vast and well-maintained green space, which attracts many people. Approximately 140,000 trees of 247 species are planted, and it is said that they are turned into natural forests and giant trees. About 3 million people visit the shrine during the New Year holidays, and the number of worshipers is the highest in Japan. Also as part of the 2020 Centennial Festival commemorative project, the two-story museum “Meiji Jingu Museum” designed by Kengo Kuma (隈研悟）was opened on October 26, 2019.

This day was a cloudy and quite cold day, but many visitors, including from overseas, visited. We walked on the approach to the shrine with a refreshing feeling and visited the Jingu-honden(the main hall of the shrine).

A wedding parade was held on the grounds of the shrine, with many foreign visitors taking pictures. The bride and groom, dressed in traditional Japanese costumes and led by priests, were wonderful. We longed for the fortunate future of young people who would lead the future of Japan!!

Approach to the main hall of Meiji Jingu Shrine.

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