Meiji Shrine#Naien

File:Meji_Shrine_under_construction_1920.jpg

File:Emperor-Meiji-Empress-Shoken-Meiji-Shrine-c1926.png

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 Shōken had been known to visit was chosen as the building's location.

Construction began in 1915 under Itō Chūta, and the shrine was built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, using primarily Japanese cypress and copper. The building of the shrine was a national project, mobilizing youth groups and other civic associations from throughout Japan, who contributed labor and funding.{{cite book|editor-link1=James Huffman (historian)|last1=Hardacre|first1=Helen|editor1-last=Huffman|editor1-first=James L.|title=Modern Japan: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Nationalism|chapter=Meiji Shrine|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135634902|page=151|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YWLhAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA151|access-date=29 March 2015}} The main timbers came from Kiso in Nagano, and Alishan in Taiwan, then a Japanese territory, with materials being utilized from every Japanese prefecture, including Karafuto, Korea, Kwantung, and Taiwan. It was estimated that the cost of the construction was ¥5,219,00 in 1920 (approximately US$26 million today), about a quarter of the actual cost due to the donated materials and labor.{{cite journal |last1=Rea |first1=G.B. |title=The Great Meiji Shrine |journal=Far Eastern Review |date=December 1920 |volume=XVI |issue=12 |page=649 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfG4UYqS9T8C}}

It was formally dedicated on November 3, 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds officially finished by 1926. The interior volume of the shrine complex when originally built was 650 tsubo.{{Cite web|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761580872/Meiji_Shrine.html |title=Meiji Shrine |access-date=2008-03-22 |work=Encarta |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029061703/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761580872/Meiji_Shrine.html |archive-date=2009-10-29 |url-status=dead }} Until 1946, the Meiji Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha ({{Nihongo2|官幣大社}}), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government-supported shrines.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 126.

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/intro/building/index.htm |title=Shrine Building |access-date=2008-03-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080311165139/http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/intro/building/index.htm |archive-date = 2008-03-11}}

Meiji Shrine has been visited by numerous foreign politicians, including United States President George W. Bush, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.{{cite web|title=Germany and Japan share the same values|url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/AAmt/BM-Reisen/2010/01-JapanChina/100114-japan.html|publisher=Federal Foreign Office, Germany|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207021733/http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/AAmt/BM-Reisen/2010/01-JapanChina/100114-japan.html|archive-date=2010-02-07|date=14 January 2010}}

File:Meiji_jingu_yoyogi_park_1989_air.jpg (1989)]]

File:Jingu gaien air.jpg

Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of {{Convert|70|ha|acre}}. 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 as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo. The entrance to the shrine complex leads through the Jingu Bashi bridge. Meiji Shrine is adjacent to Yoyogi Park which together is a large forested area. The entrances open at sunrise and close at sunset.

The shrine itself is composed of two major areas:

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.

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 stadiums (Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium, National Stadium, and the newer National Stadium), and the Meiji Memorial Hall (Meiji Kinenkan), 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 as well as meeting rooms rent and restaurants services.

In February 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government approved a plan to develop 28.4 hectares of Meiji Jingu Gaien. A new sports stadium, hotel and three skyscrapers are planned for the site. In September 2023, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO advisory body, warned of 'irreversible destruction of cultural heritage' if the project, which will result in the loss of 3,000 trees and open park space, is allowed to be completed.{{cite news| url=https://edition.cnn.com/style/tokyo-jingu-gaien-redevelopment-project-hnk-intl/index.html|author=Emiko Jozuka, Francesca Annio, Saki Toi and Daniel Campisi| title=‘Like building skyscrapers in Central Park’: Tokyo redevelopment plan sparks protests| publisher=CNN| date=October 3, 2023}}

Several festivals are held at the shrine per year. Some festivals are held annually. The exhibitions range from ice carving, shodoten (calligraphy winners's works), bonsai, Suiseki Masterpieces, Memory Dolls, Chrysanthemums, Dahlia and exhibitions at the Treasure Museum Annex.

• A ring-entering ceremony by a Yokozuna, called {{Nihongo|Dezuiri|手数入り}}, is performed at the shrine in January (usually around January 5–7) and during the Autumn Festival. Also newly promoted Yokozuna usually perform their first ring-entering ceremony here.[https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/faq/], Retrieved 2021-02-15.>
• Autumn Grand Festival (From October 31 to November 3){{cite web |website=Try Japan |title=Tokyo Sightseeing Area |url=http://www.japan-trip.jp/area/shibuya/meiji-jingu-shrine.html |date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027175000/http://www.japan-trip.jp/area/shibuya/meiji-jingu-shrine.html |archive-date=October 27, 2020}}
• October 31 - Autumn Grand Festival Bugaku at the main shrine building
• November 1 - Autumn Grand Festival: Enshrinement Anniversary Ceremony, Afternoon Ceremony
• November 2 - Autumn Grand Festival Morning Ceremony
• November 3 - Autumn Grand Festival Anniversary of Emperor Meiji's Birthday

File:Kisenosato Yutaka1.jpg|Kisenosato performing his first yokozuna dohyō-iri at the Meiji Shrine

File:Meiji Shrine-1.jpg|In front of Ichino Torii (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-2.jpg|Around Otorii (Ichino Torii) (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-3.jpg|Proceed along the south approach (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-4.jpg|In front of Minamijinmon (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-5.jpg|View the worship hall from the South Shrine (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-6.jpg|Dedication festival (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-7.jpg|Dedication festival (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-8.jpg|View Otorii from the south approach (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:Meiji Shrine-9.jpg|Around Otorii (photographed on October 31, 2010)

File:明治神宮ー武道.JPG|Ancient Martial Arts Dedication at the Festival of Autumn (November 2, 2012)

File:明治神宮ー火縄銃.JPG|Classical martial arts (gunnery) demonstration at the Festival of Autumn (November 3, 2012)

File:明治神宮ー流鏑馬.JPG|Demon Flower Vacation at the Festival of Autumn (November 2, 2012)

File:Meiji-jingu_torii.JPG|Torii at the entrance to Meiji-jingu

File:Meiji_Shrine%2C_Barrels_of_sake.jpg|Barrels of sake (nihonshu) donated to Meiji Shrine

File:Meiji Shrine Barrels of wine.jpg|Barrels of Burgundy wine from France donated to Meiji-shrine

File:Torii_of_Meiji_Shrine_2018.jpg|Torii at the courtyard of Meiji-jingu

File:MeijiShrinePriestsMaidens1187.jpg|Priests and maidens wear traditional dress in preparation for a wedding at Meiji Shrine

File:Meiji Jingu - rainy day - 2020 1 18.ogg|Several scenes on a rainy day in Meiji Shrine

File:Meiji Shrine Tokyo, Japan.jpg|Women signing prayers in main courtyard

File:MeijiShrine3.jpg|Prayers left by visitors

File:MeijiShrine1.jpg|In front of Meiji shrine

File:MeijiShrine2.jpg|The central sanctuary

File:2018_Meiji_Shrine.jpg|Full view of the shrine

File:Meiji shrine.jpg|Meiji Shrine main yard panorama

File:Meiji-Shrine-Innergarden-02.jpg|Meiji Shrine Gyoen (inner garden)

File:Meiji_Shrine_Treasure_Museum_panorama.jpg|Meiji Shrine Treasure Museum

File:Yoyogi_Park_from_Hyatt.jpg|Meiji Shrine with Yoyogi Park

{{Portal|Tokyo}}

• List of Jingū
• List of Shinto shrines
• Meiji Jingu Stadium

{{Reflist}}

• Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Imperial+House+of+Japan The Imperial House of Japan.] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. [http://www.worldcat.org/wcpa/oclc/194887 OCLC 194887]

{{Commons category|Meiji Shrine}}

• [https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/ Official English site]
• [https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/map/ Meiji Shrine English map]
• [https://www.annees-de-pelerinage.com/meiji-shrine-tokyo/ Meiji Shrine Pictures & Travel Guide]
• [https://www.yokosojapan.net/article.php/20180201meijishrine_editor_en Japanese-English Translation] Practical guide for travelers

{{Shinto shrine}}{{Contemporary Jingu}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Beppyo shrines

Category:Kanpei Taisha

Category:1920 establishments in Japan

Category:Buildings and structures in Japan destroyed during World War II

Category:Buildings and structures in Shibuya

Category:Emperor Meiji

Category:Jingū

Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1958

Category:Shinto shrines in Tokyo

Category:Chokusaisha

Category:Nagare-zukuri