Our 7 Month Travel Blog

• Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine
• Takeshita Street
• Senso-ji Temple

Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine

On our first full day in Tokyo we headed to Yoyogi Park in the Yoyogikamizonocho district of Tokyo. The park is famous for the Meiji Jingu Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shōken.

The shrine’s interesting architecture is a mix of traditional and modern Japanese styles. The Meiji period was known for having a policy of ‘Japanese spirit and Western knowledge’ to learn the best from Western culture while keeping Japan’s age-old spirit and traditions.

At the shrine you can pay respects to the Emperor and Empress by offering coins, bowing twice, clapping twice and then bowing once more.

You can also write down wishes and prayers and put them in an envelope with a monetary offering which then get placed in front of the Shrine’s altar.

The Meiji Shrine also has a unique experience called ‘Omigokoro’ where you draw an oracle. Rather than the traditional fortune telling ‘Omikuji’ found at most shrines, you draw a slip of paper containing one of thirty waka poems composed by Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

Takeshita Street

Takeshita Street was quite a change of pace from the quiet and peaceful Meiji Jingu. In the heart of Harajuku Tokyo, Takeshita Street is known for its vibrant and unique kawaii culture.

Mixed in between fashion and boutique shops are various animal cafes; miniature pigs, otters, and hedgehogs!

Senso-ji Temple

We then headed to Tokyo’s oldest established temple Senso-ji built in 645 AD and reconstructed after WW2.

The temple is dedicated to the bodhisattva of compassion and includes a main hall, five story pagoda and large gates.

We then explored the local Asakusa area with its quaint streets and lanterns.

Later we enjoyed a delicious meal of Monja and Okonomiyaki cooked on the table in front of us. We’re not entirely sure what we had…