Meiji Shrine
TOTS JAPAN 2025 STUDY TOUR
Take-and-Go Resource
Resources gathered and photos taken
by Mandy Perret
Meiji Shrine
TOTS JAPAN 2025 STUDY TOUR
Take-and-Go Resource
Resources gathered and photos taken
by Mandy Perret
Tokaido, Origami, Temples and Shrines (TOTS) Japan Project
This project (TOTS) created a new, visually rich “Virtual Japan Experience” curriculum series developed by a cohort of K-12 and community college educators for dissemination in schools across diverse subject areas, grade levels, and socio-economic populations. The project complements The Ohio State University East Asian Studies Center (EASC)’s successful “Take and Go” lesson plans by preparing and enabling a cohort of teachers to create their own visual sources, a digital archive, and other curricular resources that can be incorporated into the classroom. This cohort of educators serves as a conduit, both to enhance understanding of Japan to their students, and to impact other K-12 and community college teachers through the material they develop and EASC and the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) shares broadly. Visit the resources at Virtual Japan.
History
Shinto is a faith and not a religion. It has no founder, doctrine, or dogma but based on virtues. Began pre-6th century CE and is focused on a strict moral code and purity with rituals and worship of nature and kami.
The photo on the title slide is a Shinto shrine found in Tokyo.
Shrines were built under the influences of Buddhism.
Map
Kannushi– Shinto Clergy
These people care for the shrine and lead worship of the kami or deities or spirits of natural phenomenon. There was a ban on women being clergy in WWII but this ban is no longer in effect, so both women and men can have this role.
Sakaki and Shinboku
Sakaki - A sacred tree that is associated with Shintoism. It is often planted at Shinto shrines, and its branches are used in rituals and as offerings
Shinboku - A shinboku is a tree or forest that is worshipped as a shintai, a physical object of worship, at a Shinto shrine. They are believed to be repositories for kami.
What to See When Visiting!
Sanctuary - No photos are allowed due to it being a place of prayer.
Forest - Planted by volunteers to honor Emperor Meiji. It covers 70 hectares and currently has 234 different varieties of trees, which were donated from all over Japan. It is considered sacred and can’t be influenced by man.
Garden - Once Imperial property, it was commissioned by Emperor Meiji.
Museum - Costs 1000 yen to visit, includes articles and documents related to the Emperor Meiji & Empress Shoken.
Divine Tree - A pair of trees known as Meoto Kusu, meaning "husband and wife camphor trees". These trees are revered as sacred and are believed to represent a strong, happy marriage. They are joined by a rope called a shimenawa, which signifies their sacred connection. (For our married couples, don’t forget to make a stop).
Toro - Garden Lanterns - These represent spirits return to the elements. (Don’t forget to look for Images or words on these objects).
The Gardens-Irises in Bloom
The Gardens-Video of Irises and symbolism explanation
Divine Tree
The Shrine
Forest
Traditions
Temizu
Since this is considered a sacred space, one should purify themselves before entering.
Video of Ceremony
Other Items of Note
Ema
While at the shrine, for a donation
of 500 yen, one can share wishes or give thanks on a votive tablet and hang it around the camphor tree.
Torii-Gate
This represents the boundary between secular area and sacred area.
Omikuji (Oracles)
Japanese Waka Poems
Waka
A 5-lined poem written in the format of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables, 7 syllables, and 7 syllables.
It covers an ethical situation, one’s feelings of the world, or feelings about the life.
Waka near the entrance
of Meiji Shrine.
Pick a Virtual One
Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals of the Buddhist Clergy
釈教三十六歌仙絵巻断簡
Late 1300s–1400s
(1392–1573)
Fragment of a handscroll remounted as a hanging scroll
Cleveland Museum of Art
Works Cited
Additional Resources
Chapman, Lee. “Shinto priest: A colour portrait.” Tokyo Times, May 1 2017, https://www.tokyotimes.org/shinto-priest-a-colour-portrait.
Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals of the Buddhist Clergy. 1300s-1400s, The Cleveland Museum of Art, https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1985.88.
“Welcome to Meiji Jingu, a Shrine.” Meiji Jingu, 2025, https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en.
Tani. “#70 Little-Known Facts about Meiji Jingu Shrine.” Japan A to Z, 2025, tani.substack.com/p/70-little-known-facts-about-meiji.
Ashkenazi, Michael. "Priests, carpenters, and household heads: Ritual performers in Japan." Ethnology 24.4 (1985): 297-305.
“Meiji-jingu Shrine.” Japan National Tourism Organization, 2025, https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1666.
“Meiji Shrine- A Tribute to Modern Japan.” Tuljak, June 3 2025, https://www.tuljak.com/blog/meiji-shrine-a-tribute-to-modern-japan.
Morris, Mark. "Waka and form, waka and history." Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 46.2 (1986): 551-610.
Reader, Ian. "Letters to the gods: The form and meaning of ema." Japanese Journal of Religious Studies (1991): 24-50.
Tamas, Carmen Sapunaru. "The ritual significance of purification practices in Japan." Humanities Review 19 (2014): 1-19.
Meiji Shrine
TOTS JAPAN 2025 STUDY TOUR
Take-and-Go Resource
Resources gathered and photos taken
by Mandy Perret
Tokaido, Origami, Temples and Shrines (TOTS) Japan Project
This project (TOTS) created a new, visually rich “Virtual Japan Experience” curriculum series developed by a cohort of Visit the resources at Virtual Japan.
Sponsors: University of Pittsburgh national coordinating site for the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA) Asian Studies Center, University Center for International Studies and a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant to the East Asian Studies Center at The Ohio State University.
This project is coordinated by the East Asian Studies Center at The Ohio State University.