Meiji Jungo Shrine/ Harajuko gardens.
Meiji Shrine (????, Meiji Jing??), located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Sh?ken.[1] When Emperor Meiji died in 1912 and Empress Sh?ken in 1914, the Japanese people wished to pay their respects to the two influential Japanese figures. It was for this reason that Meiji Shrine was constructed and their souls enshrined on N
History
After the emperor's death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. An iris garden in an area of Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Sh?ken had been known to visit was chosen as the building's location.
Construction began in 1915, and the shrine was built in the traditional Nagarezukuri style and is made up primarily of Japanese cypress and copper. It was formally dedicated in 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds officially finished by 1926.[3] Until 1946, the Meiji Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (????), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. [4]
The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund raising effort and completed in October, 1958.[5]
Meiji Shrine was brought into the flow of current events with the 2009 visit of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After arriving in Tokyo on her first foreign trip representing the newly elected President Barack Obama, she made her way to this shrine in advance of meetings with Japan's leaders to show her "respect toward history and the culture of Japan." [6]
I
Shrine complex
Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 700,000 square-meters (about 175 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many people both as a spiritual home of the people and as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo.[2] The shrine itself is composed of two major areas:
Naien
The Naien is the inner precinct, which is centered on the shrine buildings and includes a treasure museum that houses articles of the Emperor and Empress. The treasure museum is built in the Azekurazukuri style.
Gaien
The Gaien is the outer precinct, which includes the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery that houses a collection of 80 large murals illustrative of the events in the lives of the Emperor and his consort. It also includes a variety of sports facilities, including the National Stadium, and is seen as the center of Japanese sports. It also includes the Meiji Memorial Hall, which was originally used for governmental meetings, including discussions surrounding the drafting of the Meiji Constitution in the late 19th century. Today it is used for Shinto weddings.
Images
 The central sanctuary where the Meiji emperor is enshrined. |
 Barrels of sake (nihonshu) donated to the Meiji Shrine. |
 Another view of the torii at the entrance to Meiji-jingu. |
 Priests and maidens wear traditional dress in preparation for a wedding at the Meiji Shrine. |
 The shrine itself. |
 Prayers left by visitors. |
 Women signing prayers in main yard. |
 Meiji Shrine main yard panorama. |
My pictures
Prewview,
The Main trail entrance to Harajuku gardens.
Harajuku "South bound" line, Along with a Secondary Trail leading to the Meiji Shrine. **Watch for thoughs fallen tree trunks** Also, some small $ tenent buildings, Mostly for shops and resterants, Shop owners say they love the smell of Elm in the morning it also atracts major consumers (Food is power)!
Duel entry way main gates, Gates open from 8:00am and stay open till 20:00pm, Gates were installed due to conjestion problems, The gardens main source for comutting around the vacenaty are Dirt trails and Small roads, Plans were in order for a Avenue, But the citys Enviormentalist enforcers beileve that a Avanue may upset the balance of nature, So the idea was scrapped, Thus "Pay" Gates were installed. When closed: Kanji sign reads: No visitors at these hours, law is High priority.
Here are some wonderful land scape shots posted by Google earth.
A small scenic route, Shows the gardens many atractions.
Kurakaru Castle.
End of update, Thanks for visiting, Check back for more soon.
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