Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) in Tokyo has no entrance fee for the main shrine grounds. You can walk in freely any day the gates are open, and the official Q&A also confirms there’s no admission fee for Meiji Jingu itself.
The only time you pay is if you choose to enter certain facilities inside the precinct. The Inner Garden asks for a 500-yen maintenance contribution, and the Meiji Jingu Museum has an admission fee (the official museum page lists ¥1,000 for adults and ¥900 for high school students or younger).
Admission fee
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) has no admission fee for the main shrine grounds. You can enter freely when the gates are open.
You only pay if you visit certain facilities inside the precinct:
The Inner Garden asks for a ¥500 maintenance contribution.
The Meiji Jingu Museum charges ¥1,000 (adults) and ¥900 (high school students or younger).
Meiji shrine entrance
When people search “Meiji Shrine entrance,” they’re usually talking about which gate to use and what to expect the moment you arrive. Meiji Jingu has multiple entrances, but the most popular is the Harajuku side, because it’s closest to Harajuku Station and Meiji-jingumae Station and gives you that classic first view: a huge wooden torii gate leading into a long forest approach that feels surprisingly quiet for central Tokyo.
If you want an easier, calmer start, the Yoyogi and Sangubashi entrances are also common choices, especially if your route fits those stations better. No matter which entrance you pick, keep in mind that the main shrine buildings are not right at the gate. The official access info notes it takes at least another ten minutes on foot from the entrance to reach the main shrine area.
One practical point: bikes and motorcycles are not allowed inside the shrine grounds, and if you arrive by car you can’t enter from Harajuku or Sangubashi—vehicles are directed to use the Yoyogi entrance side.
West entrance
Meiji Shrine’s “west entrance” usually means the Sangubashi Entrance (参宮橋口), the quieter side of Meiji Jingu that connects to the West Approach (西参道). From Sangubashi Station (Odakyu Line) it’s about a 3-minute walk to the shrine entrance.
Even after you reach the gate, Meiji Jingu is big: the official access note says it takes at least another 10 minutes from the entrance to the main shrine buildings.
If you’re arriving with a bike, you can’t ride inside the grounds; you’re expected to leave it at the parking area by the entrance.
One practical detail for drivers: Meiji Jingu states that you cannot enter by car from the Harajuku entrance or the Sangubashi entrance, and you should use the Yoyogi entrance for vehicle access.
Meiji shrine charms
Meiji Shrine charms are called omamori, and you can get them at Meiji Jingu’s juyojo (amulet offices) inside the shrine grounds. The shrine’s official pages introduce several popular omamori, including traffic safety (交通安全), good luck (開運), victory and perseverance (勝守), and recovery from illness (病気平癒), along with options like job-hunting success (就職成就守), safe childbirth and baby protection (安産守・赤ちゃん守), and a wish-focused charm where you write your own prayer on a wooden talisman (心願成就みのり守).
If you’re wondering where to buy Meiji Shrine charms, the official guidance says omamori are distributed at multiple juyojo locations, including Nagaden (長殿), Kaguraden (神楽殿), and the South Juyojo (南授与所).
For what to do with older charms, Meiji Jingu asks visitors to return old Meiji Jingu ofuda and omamori to the dedicated return area called Furushinpu Osamejo (古神符納所), located near the South temizuya area, and notes that other lucky goods are not accepted there.
In practice, the easiest way to choose an omamori at Meiji Shrine is to match it to the one thing you care about most right now, like safe travel in Tokyo, a new job, exams, or staying healthy. Many visitors carry a charm in a bag or wallet, and traffic safety charms are often kept with car items. If you visit around New Year’s, Meiji Jingu also sets up special arrangements for distributing omamori because of the crowds, so the atmosphere and pickup points can feel different from a normal day.
Meiji shrine reviews
Meiji Shrine reviews tend to sound almost the same in one point: people love how quickly the atmosphere changes. Many visitors describe walking through the huge torii gate and along the forest approach as calming, like the city noise drops away, even though you’re still in central Tokyo. That “quiet woods in the middle of Shibuya” feeling shows up again and again in Japanese reviews and international reviews alike.
Another common theme in Meiji Jingu reviews is how “simple but dignified” the main shrine area feels. Visitors often mention the clean grounds, the respectful mood around the sanctuary, and the sense that it’s an easy place to experience Shinto etiquette without feeling intimidated. Some reviews also highlight small add-ons that make the visit more memorable, like stopping by Kiyomasa’s Well or exploring a side path when you want a quieter moment.
The biggest downside in reviews is crowding, especially around New Year’s hatsumode and also at popular times and routes. People specifically point out that the Harajuku-side approach can feel busy, and some visitors choose to come early in the morning or pick a different entrance to keep the walk peaceful. If you’re visiting in late December or early January, many reviewers recommend planning for crowds and queues and adjusting your timing.
If your goal is photos and a slower pace, reviews often suggest treating Meiji Jingu like a short nature walk with a shrine at the end, because the grounds are large and you do a fair bit of walking. And if you want “something extra” beyond the main shrine, the Inner Garden and the Meiji Jingu Museum are frequently mentioned as good add-ons, especially when you want a calmer, more curated experience after the main visit.
Tripadvisor
Meiji shrine opning hours and closing time,packing and admissiondays
