Meiji Shrine (明治神宮) is one of Tokyo’s most iconic spiritual sites, hidden in plain sight near the bustling streets of Harajuku and Shibuya. This peaceful Meiji Shrine location, surrounded by a forest of 100,000 trees, feels like a natural world tucked into the heart of the city. Sometimes referred to as Meiji Temple, the shrine invites families to slow down, breathe in the quiet, and explore timeless traditions together. Visiting Meiji Shrine with kids is like stepping into another world, one where giant torii gates tower above, wishes hang from wooden ema plaques, and the city’s noise fades into the crunch of gravel under your feet. It’s the perfect Tokyo stop for a meaningful, shaded, and stroller-friendly family walk.
As you plan your trip to Tokyo, this guide is a great place to start! Begin with our Tokyo Family Travel Guide for the essentials on where to stay, how to get around, and what to eat. Then visit the Tokyo with Kids Hub to explore all our Tokyo guides, attractions, and age-specific tips in one place. If you’re considering sightseeing passes, our Tokyo Passes for Families guide breaks down the best options. For even more ideas, browse our Ultimate Guide to Family Attractions in Japan with Kids for the top castles, shrines, museums, aquariums, and theme parks.
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Why Meiji Jingu Shrine is Great for Families with Kids
- The forested path feels like an adventure trail through the city’s “secret woods.”
- Kids love walking through the massive torii gates and spotting barrels of sake and wine.
- The open grounds and calm atmosphere are great for letting little ones explore at their own pace.
- It’s a peaceful, shady walk, perfect for warm or overstimulating Tokyo days.
Parent Insight: Shrines and sacred places offer a powerful contrast to busy city life, and an opportunity for kids to experience stillness. Invite them to take part in simple rituals like bowing, clapping, or writing a wish. Participating respectfully helps them understand that culture isn’t just observed, it’s experienced.
Best Things to Do at Meiji Jingu Shrine with Kids
- Grand Torii Gate Entrance: Pass under one of the largest wooden torii gates in Japan, even adults feel small walking beneath it.
- Forest Walkway: This wide, stroller-friendly gravel path winds through cool shade and quiet nature, creating a relaxing sensory walk.
- Sake & Wine Barrels Display: Kids love seeing the colorful sake barrels and the massive wine casks, perfect for fun family photos.
- Main Shrine Area: Visit the main offering hall and let kids observe traditional rituals like hand-washing, bowing, and offering a coin with a wish.
- Ema Wishing Plaques: Write a family wish on a wooden plaque and hang it with others, a simple and meaningful memory to take home.
Practical Tips for Visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine with Kids
- Cost: Free
- Best Age Range: All ages
- Stroller-Friendly? Mostly yes, gravel paths are wide but bumpy; a baby carrier may be easier for small infants
- Rest Areas: Benches along the path; shade throughout the forest
- Food: No food inside shrine grounds, but Harajuku and Yoyogi Park have tons of snack options nearby
Best Time to Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine with Kids
The best time to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine with kids is in the morning, when the wide gravel paths are peaceful and the air feels fresh beneath the evergreen forest canopy. Arriving early also means your family can enjoy the grand torii gates and quiet rituals before the main crowds arrive.
Because the forest is made up of evergreen trees, it stays lush and green throughout the year, offering a calm escape from Tokyo’s busy streets in any season. The one major seasonal highlight is the Inner Garden, where irises bloom in June, creating a colorful backdrop if you visit in early summer.
For families, mornings are especially comfortable, giving kids space to wander and explore without the rush of larger tour groups. Even on warmer days, the shade from the trees makes this one of the coolest and most refreshing outdoor walks in Tokyo.
For year-round planning, explore our Japan Seasonal Guides for Families, including detailed resources for spring, summer, autumn, winter, and our full Best Time to Visit Japan with Kids guide.
How Long to Spend at Meiji Jingu Shrine with Kids
Plan to spend about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours at Meiji Jingu Shrine with kids, which is enough time to stroll the forest path, pass through the grand torii gates, and explore the main shrine area at a relaxed pace.
Most families will find that toddlers and younger kids are content with a shorter visit focused on the gates and a quick wish at the ema wall, while school-age children may enjoy spotting the sake barrels, participating in rituals, and wandering the peaceful trails. If you choose to visit the Inner Garden, especially during iris season in June, allow closer to 90 minutes so kids can take their time enjoying the extra walk and flowers.
How to Get to Meiji Jingu Shrine with Kids
- By Train: 1 minute from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji-Jingumae Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda & Fukutoshin Lines), 3 minutes from Sangubashi Station (Odakyu Line), or 5 minutes from Yoyogi Station (JR Yamanote, JR Chuo-Sobu & Toei Oedo Lines) and Kita-sando Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line).
- By Bus: Multiple local buses stop near Omotesando and Harajuku. Use Yoyogi Park as a landmark if needed.
Luca & Nico’s Tip: Make a wish at the ema wall and draw a tiny picture next to your message! It’s a fun way for kids to personalize their hopes!
If you’re flying into Tokyo, our Narita Airport to Tokyo with Kids and Haneda Airport to Tokyo with Kids guides walk you step-by-step through the easiest routes for families. If your trip includes bullet trains, don’t miss our Shinkansen With Kids guide for tips on seats, luggage, and navigating stations with little travelers. Parents comparing rail options can also see our Japan Rail Pass Guide to understand when the pass is worth it for families. And if you want stress-free station transfers, our Japan Luggage Delivery Guide explains how to send suitcases ahead so your family can travel light and move easily between cities.
Family-Friendly Hotels Near Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo
- Luxury
- Trunk Hotel Tokyo Cat Street – 14-minute walk from the shrine. Chic, modern design with large family-friendly suites and an unbeatable Harajuku location.
- Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand – About a 22-minute walk or 18 mins train from Meiji Jingu Shrine. This upscale, family-friendly hotel features themed rooms (including Hello Kitty), spacious layouts, multiple dining options, and an outdoor pool.
- Mid‑Range
- Tokyu Stay Shibuya – About 29 minutes on foot or 21 mins by train. Spacious rooms with kitchenettes, perfect for families wanting a little extra space.
- Budget
- APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae – Approximate 22‑minute walk or 19 mins train from Meiji Jingu Shrine. A clean, reliable business-hotel style option offering compact family rooms and consistent quality without stretching the budget.
As you finalize your Tokyo plans, you might be choosing where to stay. Our Tokyo Hotel Guide highlights top-rated family options across every budget, whether you’re planning nights near Shibuya, Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, Disneyland, Harajuku, or the Odaiba bay area. For a broader look across Japan, you can also compare options in our Ultimate Guide to Family Hotels in Japan.
Once your hotel is sorted, dive into our Best Things to Do in Tokyo with Kids guide for the city’s top attractions, from Senso-ji Temple and Ueno Zoo to DisneySea and the always popular teamLab Planets. Don’t miss our Tokyo Indoor Activities Guide for rainy or hot days, or our Best Museums in Tokyo Guide for deeper cultural play. If you’re planning your schedule, our Tokyo 3-Day Itinerary balances iconic sights with kid-friendly hidden gems.
Family-Friendly Attractions Near Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo
Meiji Jingu Shrine offers a peaceful escape in the middle of Tokyo, but its Harajuku location makes it easy to pair with other family-friendly attractions nearby. Here are some of the best stops within walking distance:
- Yoyogi Park – Right next to the shrine, this large park is perfect for picnics, stroller walks, and open play. Families will often find street performers, weekend markets, and plenty of green space.
- Takeshita Street (Harajuku) – A colorful pedestrian street filled with quirky shops, candy stores, and crepe stands. Kids especially love the playful atmosphere and character-themed shops.
- Omotesando Avenue – A stylish street lined with cafés and shops. Parents can enjoy a coffee break while kids explore sweet shops and fun window displays.
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden – Just one train stop away, this expansive garden blends Japanese, French, and English styles, offering stroller-friendly paths and seasonal flowers.
- Tokyo Toy Museum (Yotsuya) – A short train ride from Harajuku, this interactive museum lets children play with wooden toys from around the world in a hands-on environment.
If you’re mapping out your wider Japan route, start with our Japan 14-Day Family Itinerary for a balanced mix of major cities, culture, and kid-friendly highlights. Families comparing trip lengths often find it helpful to look at multiple options, including classic 7-day and 10-day Japan itineraries that show how to pace Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka with kids. And for travelers focusing mainly on the capital, our Tokyo 3-Day Family Itinerary offers an easy, child-friendly way to plan your days.
For even more support planning your trip, our Japan Family-Friendly Travel Hub brings together every city guide, attraction, and resource in one place, while our Planning a Family Trip to Japan and Japan Budget Family Travel Tips guides help parents navigate budgets, routes, and practical details.
FAQs: Visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine with Kids
Looking for answers about visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine with kids? These family-focused FAQs cover everything parents search for, from stroller access and shrine hours to location, cost, and the best time to visit. For the latest details on opening hours and the official shrine map, check the Meiji Jingu Shrine website.
A: Meiji Jingu Shrine is best known for its massive wooden torii gates, tranquil evergreen forest setting, and traditional Shinto rituals. It is one of Tokyo’s most iconic spiritual landmarks and offers families a peaceful escape right next to busy Harajuku.
A: Meiji Jingu Shrine is located in central Tokyo, directly next to Harajuku Station and within walking distance of Yoyogi Park and Shibuya. It sits inside a large forested park in the Shibuya Ward.
A: The easiest way to get to Meiji Jingu Shrine is by train. It’s a 1-minute walk from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji-Jingumae Station (Tokyo Metro). You can also reach the shrine in 3–5 minutes from nearby stations like Sangubashi, Yoyogi, or Kita-sando.
A: Meiji Jingu Shrine opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. The exact times change with the seasons, so families should check the official schedule before visiting.
A: Most families spend about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours at Meiji Jingu Shrine. This covers walking the forest path, exploring the main shrine, and writing ema wish plaques. If you also visit the Inner Garden, plan for closer to 90 minutes.
A: Yes, there are public restrooms near the main entrance and shrine area. However, baby-changing facilities are limited inside the grounds, so plan ahead if visiting with infants.
A: No, eating is not allowed inside the shrine grounds. For families, nearby Harajuku and Yoyogi Park offer plenty of kid-friendly food stalls, snack shops, and casual dining options.
A: Yes, Meiji Jingu Shrine is very kid-friendly. Children enjoy walking under the giant torii gates, exploring the wide forest paths, and joining simple rituals like hanging ema wish plaques. It’s a peaceful and engaging place for families of all ages.
A: Visiting Meiji Jingu Shrine is free for everyone. Entry to the main shrine grounds costs nothing, but the Inner Garden and Treasure Museum charge a small fee.
A: Meiji Jingu Shrine is mostly stroller-friendly with wide gravel paths. However, the surface can be bumpy, so a baby carrier may be easier for infants.
A: The best time to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine with kids is in the morning, when the paths are quieter and the air is cooler under the evergreen forest canopy. Families visiting in June can also enjoy the iris garden in bloom.
A: Yes, traditional Shinto weddings are often held at Meiji Jingu Shrine, especially on weekends. Families may spot a wedding procession with priests, attendants, and the bride and groom in ceremonial dress.
A: Meiji Jingu Shrine is located inside a 175-acre forest with more than 100,000 evergreen trees. The wide trails and tall torii gates make it feel like a natural retreat in the heart of Tokyo.
A: No, Meiji Jingu Shrine closes at sunset each day. The grounds are not open at night, so plan your family visit during daylight hours.
Until Next Time…
Meiji Jingu Shrine isn’t just a stop on a Tokyo map, it’s a forest adventure, a peaceful walk, and a place to make a quiet wish together as a family. Whether your kids remember the massive gates or the feeling of calm in the trees, this is one Tokyo memory that lingers long after you leave.
Stay curious, stay adventurous, and keep dreaming!
~ The LuNi Travels Family ~
