Meiji Grand Shrine

Meiji Grand Shrine, located in Yoyogi Shinoen-chō, Shibuya ward, Tokyo, was established in 1920 to enshrine the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji (r. 1868–1912) and Empress Shōken (1849–1914). Since its foundation, it has served as one of the capital's principal places of worship and holds the highest pre-war shrine rank.

The shrine precincts span approximately 700,000 square metres and were created using some 100,000 trees donated from across Japan at the time of its establishment. This woodland, now known as the "Eternal Forest," has become a diverse habitat for birds and insects. The shrine lies within walking distance of Harajuku, Yoyogi, and Sangen-jaya stations, and attracts the largest number of hatsumode (first shrine visits of the New Year) pilgrims in Japan annually.

The principal enshrined kami are Emperor Meiji, the 122nd sovereign who established Japan's constitutional monarchy in the modern era, and his consort Empress Shōken. The deification and enshrinement of the imperial couple places the shrine within the traditional Shinto lineage of imperial ancestor veneration.

Construction began in 1915 and the shrine was formally founded on 1 November 1920. The original buildings were destroyed in an air raid in April 1945 but were reconstructed and reopened in 1958. The main hall exemplifies modern shrine architecture, employing the *nagare* and *nagare-misedana* styles that trace their lineage to the *Engishiki* (Procedures of the Engi Era, 927 CE).

The shrine observes more than fifty annual rituals, with the most significant being the Festival on 3 November, which commemorates Emperor Meiji's birthday. Other major observances include New Year rites (1–3 January) and the Meiji Emperor Festival (30 July), alongside the mounted archery ritual (*yabusame shinaji*) performed on 3 November.