Researched guide · Checked on Nov 6, 2026
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Meiji Jingu is Tokyo’s best-known Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, and set in a large forest right next to Harajuku Station. It is free to visit and open every day from sunrise to sunset. Here is how to visit, what to see and the etiquette to know.
Quick answer
Free and open every day. Opening and closing times follow sunrise and sunset, for example 6:10–16:10 in November.
Nearest stations: Harajuku (JR Yamanote Line) and Meiji-jingumae (Chiyoda Line), 1 minute on foot. Allow at least 10 more minutes to walk from the entrance to the main shrine.
Photos: do not take photos or videos at the main sanctuary where people pray.
Opening hours
| Month | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6:40 | 16:20 |
| February | 6:20 | 16:50 |
| March | 5:40 | 17:20 |
| April | 5:10 | 17:50 |
| May | 5:00 | 18:10 |
| June | 5:00 | 18:30 |
| July | 5:00 | 18:20 |
| August | 5:00 | 18:00 |
| September | 5:20 | 17:20 |
| October | 5:40 | 16:40 |
| November | 6:10 | 16:10 |
| December | 6:40 | 16:00 |
Some facilities inside have shorter hours, mostly 9:00 to 16:00.
Is Meiji Jingu open at night?
Usually not. The shrine closes at sunset, as early as 16:00 in December. Arrive well before closing, because the walk from the entrance to the main shrine takes at least 10 minutes. New Year is the exception. These are the hours listed by the Japan National Tourism Organization, so check the shrine’s website for this year.
| Date | New Year hours |
|---|---|
| December 31 | 6:40 until midnight, then open through the night |
| January 1 | Until 19:00 |
| January 2–3 | 6:40–18:30 |
| January 4 | 6:40–18:00 |
See New Year in Tokyo for hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, and how to avoid the crowds.
What to see
- The main shrine and the forest: the walk through the tall trees from the entrance is part of the experience.
- Meiji Jingu Museum: designed by Kengo Kuma, showing items used by Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. 10:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00), closed on Thursdays. ¥1,000 for adults, ¥900 for high school students and younger.
- The Inner Garden (Gyoen): a garden with a pond, irises in June and maples in late autumn. A ¥500 maintenance contribution is asked.
How to get there
| Station | Line | Walk to the entrance |
|---|---|---|
| Harajuku / Meiji-jingumae | JR Yamanote Line / Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line | 1 min |
| Sangubashi | Odakyu Line | 3 min |
| Yoyogi | JR Yamanote, JR Chuo-Sobu, Toei Oedo lines | 5 min |
| Kita-sando | Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line | 5 min |
Bicycles are not allowed inside the grounds. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the entrances.
Etiquette
- Eat, drink and smoke only in designated areas.
- No photos or videos at the main sanctuary where people pray, and no filming or promotional photography without permission.
- No drones, running or sports.
- Stay on the paths in the forest and do not take any plants or living things.
- Learn how to purify your hands and pray in our shrine and temple etiquette guide.
When is Meiji Jingu crowded?
Google Maps reviews suggest early morning is the quieter time, and weekends and public holidays are described as much busier. One reviewer says it gets extremely crowded from about 9:00.
Meiji Jingu: when it gets busy
Weekdays: Several reviewers found weekday mornings calm or not too crowded, and one describes them as moderately crowded. One reports long lines around 15:00.
Weekends and holidays: Weekends and public holidays are described as much busier. One reviewer mentions many tour groups later in the morning.
Based on about 50 Google Maps reviews we read in November 2026, found by searching for crowded and for weekday or weekend. Most do not say which day they visited, so the difference between the two charts is approximate. This is not measured data, and we did not visit ourselves.
Reports around 8:00 are mixed: one visitor found it perfect and another a bit crowded, and one reviewer found even the morning very crowded. One visitor found it not too crowded around 17:00. We did not find enough reports about midday or the weekend afternoon. The New Year days bring the biggest crowds, with queues.
The shrine opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, so the first and last times change by month. See the opening hours table above.
Festivals and busy times
- November 1: Chinza Kinensai, marking the shrine’s founding, with celebratory performances.
- November 3: the Grand Festival (Reisai) on Emperor Meiji’s birthday.
- New Year: hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, makes Meiji Jingu one of the busiest places in Japan from midnight on January 1.
Upcoming festival dates are also on our Tokyo events calendar.
Planning which ones to visit? See eight temples and shrines side by side in temples and shrines in Tokyo.
Want a guide? A half-day guided walking tour of Meiji Jingu and Takeshita Street can be booked on Klook.
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For another historic shrine in central Tokyo, see our Hie Shrine guide in Akasaka.
Find Meiji Jingu tours
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FAQ
Is Meiji Jingu free?
Yes. Entry to the shrine is free. The Meiji Jingu Museum (¥1,000 for adults) and the Inner Garden (¥500 contribution) cost extra.
What time does Meiji Jingu open?
It opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, so the times change by month. For example, 6:10–16:10 in November and 5:00–18:30 in June.
Is Meiji Jingu open at night?
Usually not, because it closes at sunset. The Japan National Tourism Organization lists it as open through the night on December 31.
Can I take photos at Meiji Jingu?
Yes in most places, but not at the main sanctuary where people pray.
Which station is closest to Meiji Jingu?
Harajuku Station (JR) and Meiji-jingumae Station (Chiyoda Line), about 1 minute to the entrance.
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Sources
Hours, access, fees and rules come from the official Meiji Jingu website (checked October 20, 2026; opening hours table and New Year hours checked November 6, 2026). Please check before you go. The crowd notes come from Google Maps reviews, as explained in that section.
