Meiji Shrine’s Torii Gate and the Crowds of Visitors

DAY 06 / MEIJI JINGU TO SHINJUKU

Harajuku, Meiji Jingu Shrine and Shinjuku at night

From the Jingu Forest, we walked back to the streets of Harajuku, and then walked all the way to Shinjuku.

On the sixth day, we planned to go to Harajuku and Meiji Shrine. I like this area of Omotesando in Harajuku very much. Compared to Ginza, the stores here are more in line with my personal needs.

Okubo Meiji Jingu Harajuku Shinjuku

Okubo Morning

Tokyo apartment morning

After leaving Hakone, the morning turns into the rhythm of life in a city accommodation. Hand-brewed coffee, buildings outside the window, and street views from the car window take the day towards Harajuku.

Morning hand-brewed coffee and dining table in Okubo Apartment — 08:38 JST / Okubo Accommodation

Okubo apartment staircase and window light — 08:43 JST / Apartment stairs

City buildings outside the accommodation window — 08:43 JST / City outside the window

City car window street view on the way to Harajuku — 10:13 JST / Head to Harajuku

Route Map

Day 6 route

From your accommodation in Okubo go to Meiji Jingu Shrine, walk to Takeshita Dori and Omotesando in the afternoon, go shopping in Shinjuku in the evening and then return to Okubo.

Open the complete route on Google Maps

Meiji Jingu

Next to the city, a forest breathes quietly

Meiji Jingu Shrine was built in 1920 to honor Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. After entering the shrine, the sounds of the city slowly recede, turning into an oasis perfect for walking and relaxing.

Torii gate and crowds at the entrance to Meiji Jingu Shrine — 12:29 JST / Entrance to the shrine

Visitors around the entrance to Meiji Jingu Shrine — 11:26 JST / Around the shrine

Leisure building next to Meiji Shrine forest — 11:26 JST / Buildings near the forest

Photo of people in front of the Great Torii Gate of Meiji Jingu Shrine — 11:28 JST / Otorii

Meiji Shrine wine bottle wall — 11:35 JST / Wine Bottle Wall

Large trees in Meiji Shrine — 11:53 JST / Shrine Trees

Appearances of buildings surrounding Meiji Jingu Shrine — 11:24 JST / Around Jingu-mae

Detail of sake bottle wall at Meiji Jingu Shrine — 11:38 JST / Wine bottle details

Meiji Jingu Shrine main shrine eaves and tree shadows — 12:00 JST / Main shrine eaves

Meiji Shrine royal seal sign — 12:05 JST / Royal Zhuyin

Detail of ema at Meiji Shrine — 12:13 JST / Ema

Worshipers and tourists in front of Meiji Jingu Shrine — 12:17 JST / In front of the main shrine

Meiji Shrine Torii Gate and Entrance — 12:19 JST / Shrine entrance

Back view of walking on Meiji Jingu Shrine — 12:33 JST / Back view of the shrine

Lunch Break

From the forest to the table

Have lunch before leaving the shrine. Roasted meats, menus and desserts cut the morning walk into a comfortable intermission.

Stairway route of restaurants around Meiji Jingu Shrine — 12:48 JST / Restaurant movement

Yakiniku lunch characters around Harajuku — 13:40 JST / Roast pork lunch

Roasted pork plate — 13:11 JST / Roast pork plate

Table meat stove — 13:17 JST / Yakiniku stove

restaurant course menu — 13:18 JST / Course menu

Soups and side dishes — 13:23 JST / Soup

Sliced meat on the barbecue stove — 13:23 JST / BBQ

Roast meat plate and fire — 13:24 JST / Hearthfire

Chocolate dessert for roast meat lunch — 14:14 JST / Lunch Dessert

Harajuku Streets

Takeshita Street and the streets of Harajuku

Takeshita Street is not long, but it is packed with trendy clothes, small shops, desserts and brightly colored signboards. Crepes, signboards and crowds are the most direct energy of Harajuku.

Harajuku neighborhood appearance — 14:31 JST / Harajuku District

JR Harajuku Station appearance — 14:32 JST / Harajuku Station

Crowds of people and storefronts on the streets of Omotesando, Harajuku — 14:33 JST / Crowds of people on the street

JR Harajuku Station and crowds — 14:36 JST / Crowds at Harajuku Station

Takeshita-dori entrance and crowds — 14:37 JST / Takeshita-dori entrance

Crowds on Takeshita Street — 14:51 JST / Takeshita Street

Photo with a billboard for KiiiKiii 키키, a girl group I like — 14:56 JST / KiiiKiii 키키 billboard photo

Billboard for KiiiKiii 키키, a girl group I like — 14:56 JST / KiiiKiii 키키 billboard

Imperial seal and conferral items — 15:48 JST / Royal Zhuyin

Royal seal or souvenir — 16:46 JST / Souvenirs

Omotesando

A neighborhood closer to your needs than Ginza

The stores in Harajuku and Omotesando are closer to personal preferences. Sports brands, clothing, street installations and architectural facades make this area easier to stroll around than Ginza.

Harajuku New Balance store — 14:57 JST / New Balance

Harajuku KaraKu store — 15:00 JST / KaraKu

15:01 JST / Brand storefront

Harajuku ASICS store — 15:05 JST / ASICS

Omotesando clothing store window — 15:10 JST / Clothing showcase

Harajuku Tokyu Plaza Mirror Building — 15:11 JST / Tokyu Plaza

Harajuku Street Karting — 15:12 JST / Street Karting

Harajuku Harry Potter store — 15:14 JST / Harry Potter

Harajuku Nike glass facade — 15:16 JST / Nike

Back To Okubo

Let's go back to the apartment to rest first, and then go to Shinjuku

Considering my parents' physical strength, I took a ride back to the apartment after visiting the Harajuku area. In the evening, walk slowly from Okubo to Shinjuku Station.

Yellow storefronts and street view in the direction of Harajuku-Shinjuku — 17:08 JST / Yellow storefront

fwee pink device — 17:17 JST/fwee device

fwee store appearance — 17:17 JST / fwee storefront

Clothing store entrance — 17:17 JST / Clothing store

Store signs and characters — 17:17 JST / Store sign

Appearance of Korean restaurant in Shin-Okubo District — 17:22 JST / Shin-Okubo District

Street character decoration — 17:23 JST / Street character

Don Quijote signboard around Okubo Shinjuku — 17:25 JST / Don Quijote

Shinjuku Night

Shopping for luggage, visiting record and animation stores

Walked from Okubo to Shinjuku Station in the evening. I bought a suitcase, and my kids also visited Tower Records and Allimate; the half-hour journey plus a full day of walking was actually not easy.