Meiji Shrine

Well after my ice cream treat, I made way through, you guessed it! ANOTHER PARK!

It was called Hibiya Park, and I made sure to take a picture of the guide map with the name on it, because there is no way I am ever going to remember the names of all these places.

This one had a tennis court, a few restaurants that looked way to fancy for me. A fountain, a pond with a feature and a whole lot of another things that just made it a great park..

Japan knows how to make a park. And they’re so commonly used that I just expect to see business men strolling through on their, lunch break? I’m very confused about the hours people work and go to school here, because at any time whether it be morning, lunch or afternoon there always seems to be school kids and people in suits, well, not at work.

Also there seems to be a lot of trust when it comes to what age your child should be allowed to walk to and from school, or in this case catch trains across the city. I personally do not have an opinion on it, because I do not have kids and wouldn’t have a clue where to start. But the tiny little children that I see walking through the train stations alone with their almost too large backpacks, seems way too young. But hey, Japan. It’s known as being the safest country in Asia, so there you go.

Anyway..

I jumped on a train from Hibiya Station to Harajuku Station, mainly because I was hoping to go to Japan’s Korea Town for my, k-pop fix… (Not going to lie, I’m tempted to buy all the BTS albums because they’re soooo cheap here. No Shipping! Just the Merchandise..)

But anyway, as soon as I had wifi again I looked up where to go, I remembered that it was right near the station, maybe about 50m down the road. How surprised I was to find that while I thought it was in Harajuku, it was actually in Shibuya, a few stations over. Oops..

While I was annoyed at myself for a second, I figured Hey! I’m in Tokyo for god’s sake, there is always something to do.

So I went to Meiji Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

It was quite peaceful walking down the long stretch of gravel to get to the actual Shrine, with no lack of people around. I had actually thought of going here a week before, but of course it was closed, most things are closed on Monday’s here, so I was glad to see it open. There were two foreigners standing on the bridge just before the Shrine with signs saying ‘Free Hugs’.. No one was hugging them. I did not hug them.

…But they seemed to be having a good time.

So you first pass through big Tori gates, apparently you’re not meant to pass straight through the middle because that is the path of the deity, but everyone does it. So I’m not really sure how important that rule is. But I’ll stick to the side as to not piss anybody off.

Along the way there is a cafe/restaurant and a little souvenir shop that you can stop in if you please. and right after are these barrels that line the path on either side for a few meters.

One sake barrels..

And wine..

A little ways down the road you come to a fork, and it gives you the option to either go through another set of Tori gates, or follow the right into Yoyogi Park. Opt for the right, if you want the Shrine.

It was... tall.

And then you walk even further round a corner before you FINALLY come to the entry to the shrine. The actual entry.

Inside it pretty much like any other shrine. There are places for you to give money and pray. Places to buy amulets and good luck charms. And a place to write down your wishes.

You pretty much write down, i guess not a wish so much a prayer or request i guess. Add your money offering and put it into the box. These will then be opened at a later date, and maybe the deity will grant your wish.

The writing says request, or wish.

Entry to another part of the shrine

And that's pretty much it. From there you can go onto Yoyogi Park or head back out the way that you came. Which is what i did, because by then everything ached and I needed to get back to the hostel to pack for my next adventure.

I had to drag my suitcase out of my room and try and repack it out in the common room because people decided that 3pm in the afternoon was a good time to sleep. Though I found that the people who i shared the room with cared little for the sleep and well being of others, by walking out and leaving their lights on, by being loud at 3am in the morning, ect.. I for one had a bit more sense and thought to organise myself where I wouldn't disturb them. Men..

Good thing that I did actually because I got to talking with a Japanese girl who was eating lunch. Again she was very interested in Australia, and hoping that in the next few years she would be able to go on a working holiday there. I told her what I could, and we discussed anime and kpop and the one Japanese singer that I knew that her friends absolutely love. (what are the chances, haha).

I've kept in contact with her since leaving Tokyo and she seems keen to show me around when I get back after the week. So hopefully that goes through. would be nice to have someone who actually knows what they're doing.

Right now I'm in Okinawa, a group of islands south of Japan and i'll have some things to say about that soon..

Untile next time,

ごきげんよう!