Sanctuaire Meiji

**Optimal visit time:** Early morning (6:00-8:00 summer, 7:00-9:00 winter) offers solitude and soft light filtering through forest canopy. The shrine sees 3 million visitors annually, making mornings essential for contemplative experience. Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends. Avoid New Year (Jan 1-3) when the shrine receives 3 million visitors in 72 hours — the most-visited shrine in Japan during hatsumode (first shrine visit). **Wedding observations:** Shinto weddings occur most weekends (spring and autumn peak seasons). The processions depart from the waiting area near the main hall around 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00. The bride wears white shiromuku with a white hood (tsunokakushi), the groom wears black montsuki kimono. Photography of the procession is permitted from a respectful distance — don't block the path or use flash. **Omikuji and ema:** The shrine sells omikuji (おみくじ, fortune slips, ¥100) and ema (絵馬, wooden prayer plaques, ¥500). Omikuji are selected at random — if the fortune is bad (末吉 or 凶), tie it to the designated rack to leave the bad luck behind. Ema are written with wishes and hung at the shrine — common wishes include health, success, love. English translations available at the counter. **Inner Garden:** The Meiji Jingu Inner Garden (御苑, Gyoen, ¥500 entry) is a separate section with iris gardens (hanashobu, bloom mid-June) and a pond. The garden was designed by Emperor Meiji for Empress Shoken. It's a peaceful extension of the main shrine visit — budget an additional 30 minutes. The iris garden's 150 varieties bloom for 2-3 weeks in June.