Meiji Shrine.

By Nick Dwyer

Get away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city with this quiet retreat

Meiji Shrine
1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizono-cho
Shibuya-ku
www.meijijingu.or.jp/

One of the best things you can do if you’ve arrived in Tokyo for the first time is to just have an aimless wander, and more often that not, the first port-of-call to experience the full sensory experience Tokyo is renowned for is Shibuya. Head to Shibuya for its ‘oh my god I feel like I’m stuck in a pinball machine’ and Harujuku for that ‘oh my god they really do have guys dressed like Elvis and girls like Little Bo-Peep’ vibe. Pretty soon though, you’ll need a rest from the sensory overload, and the best place to do that is the Meiji Shrine just behind Harujuku station. It’s always mad to think that such a real slice of historical Japan lies literally a minute’s walk from the hustle and bustle of one of the busiest parts of the busiest city on earth. The dense forest is incredible to walk though and the shrine itself is a sight to behold. Your Zen levels will be set back to normal in a jiffy. A must-do if it’s your first visit.