Japan, Tokyo walking tour in heavy rain | Meiji Jingu Shrine in evening [4K]

Japan, Tokyo walking tour in heavy rain | Meiji Jingu Shrine in evening [4K]

Thanks for your request “I want to see the Meiji Jingu Shrine.” Responding to a viewer’s request, I walked around Meiji Jingu Shrine near Harajuku Station in Tokyo. If you would like to see a walk around Harajuku Station,

You can access the Harajuku video on a heavy snow day by clicking on the label in the upper right corner or the link in the description section. Meiji Jingu Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Dowager Shoken.

The Emperor of Japan is a position that is considered the symbol of the Japanese nation. And the Emperor is passed down from generation to generation through hereditary succession. Meiji Jingu Shrine opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.

It is recommended to check the closing time in advance, especially if you visit in the evening. Since it was raining that day, fewer people than usual were visiting, most of whom seemed to be tourists from overseas.

The vast forest of Meiji Jingu Shrine is an artificial forest created by planting approximately 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan. Lined up here are sake barrels dedicated by sake brewers from all over Japan. In Japan, sake is not only consumed as an alcoholic beverage at everyday meals.

It is also used in sacred occasions such as ceremonies at shrines. For example, during a wedding ceremony at a shrine, the groom and bride take turns sipping sake. Since Emperor Meiji was fond of wine as well as sake, wine barrels delivered from a brewer in Burgundy, France, are also displayed.

The entrance to the shrine is in sight. Shrines have a place to rinse the mouth and hands with water to purify them. This is the place to return old amulets. Old amulets placed here will be offered by the shrine. The sign says in red, “Do not put dolls in here”

The area marked in red is our current location. From this map, you can see how vast the forest around the shrine is. These are woodblocks called “ema”. In ancient Japan, there was a belief that horses were dedicated to shrines when praying for rain.

However, as it became more difficult to consecrate horses, people began to dedicate them by drawing them on woodblocks. Today, visitors write their wishes on the ema and hang them in a designated place, and the shrine will pray for the fulfillment of their wishes.

The inside of the main shrine, where ceremonies and other events are held, is considered a sacred place. Since video and photographs are not allowed, we will walk a short distance from the main shrine. It has been raining in Tokyo for the past few days.

Here you can buy good luck charms and other items. This is the place to do “omikuji” (fortune-telling). A long, narrow wooden box on a white stand has a small hole in it. When the box is shaken, a thin stick comes out of the hole.

You take a piece of paper in the shelf with the same number as that on the stick. The paper contains information and advice about your future good luck and health. Let’s walk some more in the woods. It may come as a surprise to those who have visited Japanese shrines,

But there are not that many Japanese who strongly believe in the gods of shrines or the Buddha of temples as their religion. Originally, many Japanese do not have the culture or custom of believing in a specific religion.

Therefore, it is not unusual for Japanese people to pray to God at shrines on New Year’s, hold wedding ceremonies at churches with crosses, and hold funerals in Buddhist-style at temples. Do these Japanese people look strange to people from other countries? Puddles of water here and there. Good thing I wore waterproof shoes.

Music is playing to let us know that the closing time is approaching. We have to go as far as we can and make a U-turn… This time, make a U-turn here to return to Harajuku Station. If you continue on, you will reach the entrance near Sangubashi Station.

Since the closing time of Meiji Jingu Shrine is near, I will proceed a little faster on my way back… sorry!

In response to a request from a viewer, I took a 4K video while taking an evening walk at Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.
Meiji Jingu Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Dowager Shoken. The Emperor of Japan is a position that is considered the symbol of the Japanese nation and is passed down from generation to generation through hereditary succession. The emperor performs state affairs but has no political power.
The vast forest of Meiji Shrine is an artificial forest created by planting approximately 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan.
Although Meiji Jingu Shrine attracts the largest number of visitors and tourists in Japan at the beginning of each year, it was not very crowded on this day, perhaps due to the rain, and I enjoyed the quiet and mysterious atmosphere of the walk.
Meiji Jingu Shrine opens at sunrise and closes at sunset.
It is recommended to check the closing time in advance, especially if you visit in the evening.

– Popular city walking videos –
Shibuya walk : https://youtu.be/yqrIpOOXgRQ
Harajuku walk in heavy snow : https://youtu.be/ce4TdJWV1PY
Roppongi walk : https://youtu.be/hcVBsUb7AqY
Ueno walk : https://youtu.be/8MqnrkJCU7s
Meguro walk : https://youtu.be/Ocsjk-ooXxw
Koenji walk : https://youtu.be/np4TMgDL8hQ

– Requests are welcome –
If there are specific places in Tokyo you’d like me to visit, please feel free to request them in the video’s comment section – I always welcome your comments!

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https://www.youtube.com/@tokyotwilightwalk
This channel offers a virtual tour of Tokyo’s authentic twilight experience through peaceful strolls, allowing you to explore the city’s cherished local streets, rather than the typical tourist spots. I create content for those who have an interest in Japan, individuals facing travel challenges, and anyone curious about contemporary Japanese life.

Apologies if there are any language translation mistakes on this channel.

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