Photos > Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park
Meiji shrine sits inside
Yoyogi park,
which isolates it enough that it doesn't even feel like it's actually in Tokyo. The shrine itself is fairly large
and has some interesting sights, but the trails that lead to & from it through the park also add a lot to the
scenery, with giant torii gates straddling the path.
The park is a gathering place for all different types of people, particularly on Sundays when bands, dancers, and
teenagers just hanging out stake claims at their favorite spots. And just across the street from the park is the
Harajuku district, centered around Takeshita Dori, a foot-traffic-only street filled mostly
with clothing stores. Harajuku is known mostly for the unique (or strange) fashions and subcultures that
thrive there, like gothic lolita.
Image: IMG_3221Date: 2007-08-05Description: Giant wooden torii gate in the park on the path to Meiji shrine
Image: IMG_3233Date: 2007-08-05Description: Hundreds of sake barrels grouped together near Meiji shrine
Image: IMG_3251Date: 2007-08-05Description: Miko (shrine maiden) selling charms, etc. at the entrance to Meiji shrine
Image: IMG_3255Date: 2007-08-05Description: Wooden doorway to the courtyard at Meiji shrine
Image: IMG_3258Date: 2007-08-05
Image: IMG_3261Date: 2007-08-05Description: These are Ema, wooden plates on which visitors to the shrine write their wishes in the hope that they'll be fulfilled
Image: IMG_3269Date: 2007-08-05Description: Offering boxes inside Meiji shrine
Image: IMG_3277Date: 2007-08-05Description: Purification fountain at the entrance to Meiji shrine, where visitors clean their hands and mouth before entering
Image: IMG_3282Date: 2007-08-05Description: Close-up on giant wooden torii gate
Image: IMG_3290Date: 2007-08-05Description: Rack of wine barrels in the park near Meiji shrine
Image: IMG_6865Date: 2007-08-19Description: Things start to get busy mid-day along Takeshita Dori in Harajuku
Image: IMG_6867Date: 2007-08-19Description: An artists paints for a customer on the bridge to Yoyogi Park
Image: IMG_6877Date: 2007-08-19Description: Girls dressed in unusual styles like Gothic Lolita can be seen on the bridge between Harajuku and Yoyogi Park. I asked this girl if I could take a picture, and she struck this strangely evil-looking pose for me.
Image: IMG_6884Date: 2007-08-19Description: A group performing martial arts in Yoyogi Park
Image: IMG_6887Date: 2007-08-19Description: Japanese teenagers hanging out in front of brightly-colored graffiti on a bridge in Yoyogi park