Meiji Shrine

The Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Japanese history credits Emperor Meiji for modernizing Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After the emperor's death in 1912 and that of his consort in 1914, the Japanese commemorated their contributions with the Meiji Shrine. And although the buildings are certainly worth visiting, we find the surrounding forest even more remarkable. Usually considered a part of Yoyogi Park, the forest is composed of more than 245 species of trees from around the world.

Most visitors say that the highlight of their visit is spotting a traditional Japanese wedding. One TripAdvisor user says, "The best part about it is all the locals dressed up in their best (especially on weekends) attending weddings and taking photos of their kids all dressed up in the traditional ceremonial outfits."

When you visit the shrine, be sure to abide by the prescribed rules: Don't photograph the interior of the buildings; don't eat, drink or smoke unless you're in designated areas. With less than a 10-minute walk, you can reach the shrine from the Yoyogi, Sangubashi, Kitasando, Harajuku or Meiji Jingu Mae subway stations. The shrine welcomes visitors from sunrise to sunset every day, but the individual building maintain varied hours. For more information, check out the Meiji Shrine's website.