Meiji Shrine
Shinto shrine in Tokyo dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken.
Meiji Shrine, located in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, is a Shinto shrine honoring the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. (The emperor’s actual grave lies at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto.) The shrine was conceived after the emperor’s death in 1912, when Japan’s Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his leadership during the Meiji Restoration. The chosen site was an iris garden the imperial couple had often visited.
Construction began in 1915 under architect Itō Chūta, using traditional nagare-zukuri style with Japanese cypress and copper. It was a national project: youth groups and civic associations across Japan donated labor and funding. Main timbers came from Kiso (Nagano) and Alishan (then-Japanese Taiwan), with materials from every prefecture, including Karafuto, Korea, Kwantung, and Taiwan. The 1920 cost estimate of ¥5,219,000 (roughly US$26 million today) was only about a quarter of the real value due to donated materials and work. The shrine was formally dedicated on November 1, 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds finished by 1926. The original complex had an interior volume of 650 tsubo. Until 1946, it ranked as a Kanpei-taisha, a top-tier government-supported shrine.
The original buildings were destroyed in the air raid of April 13–14, 1945. The current shrine was rebuilt with public fundraising and rededicated on October 31, 1958. Over the years, foreign politicians including U.S. President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle have visited.
The shrine sits within a 70-hectare (170-acre) evergreen forest of 120,000 trees from 365 species, donated from across Japan at its founding. The forest is a popular recreation and relaxation area in central Tokyo. Visitors enter via Jingu Bashi bridge. The complex adjoins Yoyogi Park, forming a large wooded zone. Gates open at sunrise and close at sunset.
The shrine has two main precincts. The inner precinct (Naien) centers on the shrine buildings and includes a treasure museum in Azekurazukuri style, housing articles of the emperor and empress. The outer precinct (Gaien) contains the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, with 80 large murals depicting the imperial couple’s lives. It also features sports facilities (Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium, National Stadium, and the newer National Stadium) and the Meiji Memorial Hall, originally
- dedicated
- November 1, 1920
- destroyed
- Air raid of April 13–14, 1945
- rebuilt
- October 31, 1958
Lore & Background
After Emperor Meiji's death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. An iris garden in Tokyo where the emperor and empress had visited was chosen as the location. Construction began in 1915 under Itō Chūta, using traditional nagare-zukuri style with Japanese cypress and copper. The project mobilized youth groups and civic associations nationwide, with materials from every Japanese prefecture, including Karafuto, Korea, Kwantung, and Taiwan. The cost was estimated at ¥5,219,000 in 1920, about a quarter of the actual cost due to donated materials and labor.
Reader's Guide
Meiji Shrine was formally dedicated on November 3, 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds finished by 1926. Until 1946, it was designated one of the Kanpei-taisha, the first rank of government-supported shrines. The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II, and the present iteration was funded through public fundraising and completed in October 1958. The shrine complex includes the inner precinct (Naien) with a treasure museum, and the outer precinct (Gaien) with the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, sports facilities, and the Meiji Memorial Hall. In February 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government approved a redevelopment plan for 28.4 hectares of Gaien, which ICOMOS warned could cause 'irreversible destruction of cultural heritage' due to the loss of 3,000 trees. The shrine has been visited by foreign politicians including U.S. President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
Did You Know?
- The shrine does not contain Emperor Meiji's grave, which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto.
- The forest surrounding the shrine covers 70 hectares and consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species donated from all parts of Japan.
- The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II and rebuilt in October 1958.
- A ring-entering ceremony by a Yokozuna, called Dezuiri, is performed at the shrine in January and during the Autumn Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Meiji Shrine and who is it dedicated to?
Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Tokyo that honors the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. It was established as a national memorial after the emperor's death in 1912, when the Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration.
Where exactly is Meiji Shrine located?
The shrine sits in Tokyo's Shibuya ward on a site that was originally an iris garden the imperial couple enjoyed visiting together. The location was chosen specifically for its personal significance to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken.
When was Meiji Shrine built and dedicated?
Construction began in 1915 under architect Itō Chūta, and the shrine was formally dedicated on November 1, 1920. It was built as a massive volunteer-driven national project, with young people contributing labor to raise the structure.
What happened to Meiji Shrine during World War II?
The original structure was destroyed in the air raid of April 13–14, 1945. It was subsequently rebuilt and rededicated on October 31, 1958, returning to service in the same traditional nagare-zukuri style using Japanese cypress and copper.
Why is Meiji Shrine considered important in Japanese culture?
It serves as the primary Shinto site where the deified legacy of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken is venerated, connecting modern Japan to the transformative Meiji Restoration era. As a nationally funded project built by volunteer labor, it also stands as a symbol of collective civic devotion.
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