Culture
Après-midi au Meiji-jingû
Alexandra DoroviciLe Meiji-jingû est l'un des sanctuaires les plus populaires de Tokyo. Achevé en 1926, il est dédié à l'empereur Meiji et à l'impératrice Shoken.
Meiji Jingu is located in technologically advanced Tokyo and only a few minutes from the quirky streets of Harajuku. This famous Shinto shrine is hidden among a thickly forested area, creating an atmosphere of tranquility in the heart of Japan's bustling metropolis. Meiji Jingu is one of the most popular shrines in Tokyo and is visited by millions of people every year. The shrine’s daily ceremonies, incredible architecture, and scenic grounds make it a memorable and rejuvenating destination for tourists and Shinto practitioners alike.
History
The relatively recent shrine was built in 1920 to commemorate Japan’s first modern emperor and empress, Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. In 1867, Emperor Meiji ascended to the throne, effectively marking the end of Japan’s feudal era and the beginning of the Meiji Period. During his rule, Emperor Meiji guided Japan into a more modern and westernized way of life and revamped international relations by building connections with other countries. The shrine was tragically destroyed by 1945 bombings, but was quickly rebuilt in 1958 thanks to public donations.
Today
Meiji Jingu and its surrounding forest stand as a beacon of the Shinto faith, creating an atmosphere of harmony between first-time guests, practitioners, nature, and the past. Given its location in Tokyo, the easily accessible shrine is a common destination for visitors. Meiji Jingu is open every day from sunrise to sunset and has no admission fee.
The shrine has one southern entrance and two northern, all of which are marked by towering torii gates. When visitors pass under the gates, which mark the separation between the sacred and secular world, it is customary to bow. The path to the shrine’s main complex is lined by a lush forest composed of over 100,000 trees and a variety of plant species, many of which were donated to the area from all over Japan. The densely wooded area effectively blocks out the sights and sounds of Tokyo, enveloping visitors in an environment of zen where they can clear their minds as they walk to the main shrine entrance. Once visitors step across the threshold onto the main grounds, they can leave their everyday worries behind and immerse themselves in the shrine’s architectural beauty and Shinto practices.
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Meiji Jingu’s location in Tokyo makes it easily accessible via public transportation and is minutes away from a number of train stations by foot. Please note that the travel times below are calculated using the shrine entrance as the endpoint. It will take about another 10 minutes for visitors to reach the main shrine grounds.
Closest access:
The shrine is a 1-minute walk from either Harajuku Station on JR Yamanote Line or Meiji-jingumae Station on Tokyo Metro Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Lines.
Other nearby stations:
Sangubashi Station on Odakyu Line: 3-minute walk
Yoyogi Station on JR Yamanote Line, JR Chūō Line, Sōbu Line, and Toei Oedo Line: 5-minute walk
Kita-Sando Station on Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line: 5-minute walk
Le Meiji-jingû est l'un des sanctuaires les plus populaires de Tokyo. Achevé en 1926, il est dédié à l'empereur Meiji et à l'impératrice Shoken.
Situé à deux pas de l'immense parc central de Shinjuku, THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku est un hôtel moderne de caractère avec un accès facile à la gare de Shinjuku et au sanctuaire Meiji. Le bâtiment de l'hôtel de 14 étages a été rénové et rouvert sous le nom de THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku en août 2018. La conception de l'atrium spacieux offre une atmosphère détendue et relie le restaurant, le bar, le salon et le hall les uns aux autres. L'hôtel dispose de plus de 400 chambres et 7 types de chambres et au dernier étagent se trouvent des chambres de style occidental offrant une vue sur le parc ainsi qu'une suite avec terrasse récemment ouverte. L'un des points forts de THE KNOT est sa délicieuse cuisine. Vous y trouverez six zonesde restauration, proposant par exemple des grillades au thé noir de qualité ou du pain frais.
With Koenji being a "creative town" it's no surprise that the BnA Hotel opened there in 2016 and has had, subsequently, an incredible impact on the local community. BnA (Bed and Art) has other spaces dotted about Tokyo and Kyoto, but the Koenji edition is possibly more immersive as the concept is "stay in an artwork." In collaboration with local artists, the BnA has created an impressive multi-storey art experiment for art lovers and creatives with a desire to inhabit art. The first floor acts as a front desk and bar which comes alive at night with events and selected DJs. It also hosts Masu Masu onigiri cafe with artists being asked to come and exchange artwork with each other in a gesture which reflects the true spirit of Koenji. With two "living art" twin rooms taking up the second and third floors designed by a seasonal rotation of local artists, guests can engage with and inhabit their art rooms. BnA Koenji also plays host to a rooftop lounge and a basement space which is used for artists residencies where their work is shown to the public and a DJ booth and streaming equipment for live performances. With live painting events and an eclectic variety of regular events, the BnA Hotel becomes, itself, a living canvas. The BnA believes that it's a machigata hotel, meaning that guests should (and are encouraged) to interact with Koenji. Use the public sentos, eat in the local restaurants that surround the hotel and buy locally from the multitude of shops, market stalls, bars and cafes which make-up the fabric of Koenji. Feted by international press such as The Guardian, BnA acts as a creative network with the concept of serendipity being discussed as the bar becomes an ad hoc meeting place where collaborations and friendships between artists and locals are born. The BnA was also instrumental in a street art festival named MCP (Mural City Project) which was supported by Suginami Ward. MCP was incredibly ambitious and truly communal with the desire to transform and coalesce the community through the creation of public murals. The BnA, Koenji and Suginami spearheaded a public art movement which should be commended and replicated throughout Tokyo.
Just minutes from Shinagawa Station, the Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa is surrounded by lush greenery in the Takanawa area, with rooms offering balcony views of the nearby gardens and the surrounding Tokyo cityscape. This urban resort features convention facilities like the Hiten banquet hall, the international Convention Center Pamir, as well as a wide variety of Japanese, Chinese and Western restaurants.
Mame Shiba Cafe offers a unique experience where you can interact with Shiba dogs while enjoying your favorite drinks. You cannot make reservations in advance through phone or online, so it is best to book early in the morning at a store. The cafe requires customers to make a reservation in-store, present their receipt at the reserved time, and then enter the cafe.
There is a restaurant right in front of the Meguro station where you can eat your own fish. All kinds of Japanese dishes and fresh seafood are also served. In some pools inside the restaurant you can catch your own fish with a fishing rod and net and then let the staff know which table it should be brought to. You can watch the fish being prepared in the kitchen and let you know in advance how the fish should be prepared: whether as sashimi, grilled, boiled, deep-fried (with tempura) or as sushi. If you don't manage to catch your own fish, then you can of course order a fish from the menu. However, the price is much lower if you want to have your own catch cooked .
Situated a few minutes stroll from the north exit of JR Koenji Station, Clouds Art + Coffee is a simple affair reflecting the owners' passion for, well, art and coffee. Very chic and sparse, the space is compact with a fine selection of coffee from all over the world such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia and Brazil which makes it the perfect spot for Tokyo's legion of coffee addicts. The owners curate a healthy mix of artwork from local and international artists and the rotational exhibition system means that regular customers have the opportunity to see, firsthand, the best and most intriguing art from Koenji's thriving art community. There's no censorship at Clouds Art + Coffee and artists are encouraged to represent themselves and their work in a free manner and this means, essentially, that customers can view an eclectic and liberating amount of art hand in hand with some of the finest coffee in Koenji and Tokyo as a whole. Clouds Art + Coffee is, ostensibly, a hub and tryst for art and coffee lovers who come from far and wide to sample international coffee made from the finest beans and art from emerging and established artists.
En tant que l'un des plus grands espaces verts publics de Tokyo, le parc Yoyogi attire les Tokyoïtes à la recherche de soleil, de tranquillité et de la possibilité de profiter de l'un des divers festivals que le parc accueille tout au long de l'année. Bien que le parc Yoyogi ait relativement peu de cerisiers par rapport aux autres parcs de Tokyo, c'est un magnifique point de vue pour la saison des fleurs de cerisier au printemps. Il est également connu pour ses arbres ginkos, dont les feuilles deviennent dorées à l'automne. Avant que le parc ne devienne un parc municipal en 1967, la zone était le site du village olympique des Jeux de 1964. Le parc Yoyogi est juste à côté du sanctuaire Meiji.
Avec un accès facile depuis la gare de Harajuku, "With Harajuku" est le lieu de résidence et l'espace de shopping n°1 de cette Mecque de la mode qu'est le quartier d'Harajuku. À With Harajuku, les résidents peuvent devenir une partie active de la mode en constante évolution de Tokyo. Les visiteurs peuvent profiter de la grande offre de boutiques et de restaurants, y compris un nouvel Ikea. Harajuku est une zone située autour de la gare de Harajuku, considérée comme le centre de la culture des adolescents et des styles de mode les plus extrêmes du Japon. Non loin de là se trouve le quartier glamour d'Omotesando, où les marques de luxe internationales s'affrontent. Le Takeshita Dori n'est pas loin de With Harajuku, où vous pourrez découvrir des boutiques tendances ainsi que des friperies et vous immerger dans la culture de la mode du Japon.
The Tōgō Shrine was established in 1940 and dedicated to Gensui The Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō shortly after his death. This shrine was destroyed by the Bombing of Tokyo, but was rebuilt in 1964. It is located in Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan. There, The Marquis Tōgō Heihachirō is celebrated as a shinto kami. [Wikipedia]