Meiji Jingu is the largest Shinto shrine in Tokyo.
Enshrined is the Emperor Meiji who was the great ground father of the current Emperor.
■ Origin
In the late 19th century, the big political change took place in Japan. The samurai government called "Tokugawa shogunate" ,which has lasted for about 260 years, came to an end and the Imperial government was restored. The Emperor moved to Tokyo from Kyoto and he took a lead in making Japan a modern and industrialized country.
After he died, the Meiji shrine was founded to commemorate his great work in 1920.
■ Features
At the entrance, there is a tall wooden gate called "Torii". It is a shrine gate consisting of two pillars connected at the top with two horizontal bars. The function of a torii is to mark the entrance to a sacred space.
The shrine building was constructed in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, using Japanese cypress trees and copper. The original building was destroyed during the World War II. The present shrine was reconstructed in 1958.
■ Forest
The Meiji Shrine seems to be in a natural forest, in fact, it is an artificial forest. More than 100,000 trees were donated from different districts all over the country at the beginning. So, there are many kinds of trees found all over the country. Now big and old trees in the forest add the sacred atmosphere.
■ Many people visit here
During the first three days of New Year, over 3 million people visit here to pray for their happiness, success, health, passing a exam, and more.
Young couples like to hold a wedding ceremony here. If you are lucky, you can see a wedding ceremony conducted by the Shinto style.
Because sumo has been deeply related with Shinto, champions of sumo wrestlers called Yokoduna hold special rituals in the Meiji shrine sometimes.
■ Poems by Emperor and Empress
By Emperor (明治天皇の歌）
ちはやふる 神のをしえおを うけつぎし 人のこころぞ ただしかりける
（訳：神の教えを受け継いだ人の心というのは、正しいのだなあ。）
The heart of a person who has inherited God's teachings is correct.
If a person learned teachings of God, the heart of the person is correct.
By Empress (昭憲皇太后の歌)
人ごとの よきもあしきも こころして きけばわが身の ためとこそなれ
（訳：人の言葉は良いことも悪いことも注意深く聞ば、役に立つものです。）
What people say, both good and bad, can be useful if you listen carefully.
People say both good and bad. Every words can be useful if you listen carefully.
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If you want to visit with a guide, I recommend "Tokyo one day tour with Sumida river cruse".
This tour covers the Meiji jingu.