Page 33 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Tokyo

Meiji Shrine ❮❮ 31

Votive Tablets
5
Hung on prayer
boards in front of the
shrine (right), ema (votive
tablets sending prayers to
the god) are still popular,
especially among stu­
dents petition ing for
JR Bridge
divine help in passing 8
exams. Another ema is The bridge leading to the shrine is a free
usually hung in gratitude, zone for performance artists, some of whom enjoy
if a wish is fulfilled. dressing up in rococo hairstyles and gothic makeup.

Meiji Shrine
0
Iris Garden
A wooded path leads
into a sunken garden
(below), bordered by
misty woods and thatched
gazebos. In early June,
purple, pink, and white
irises bloom in the
water garden.
Traditional Wedding Processions
6
Along with the many other rituals and
dedicatory ceremonies held at the shrine, Shinto
weddings (above) are quietly formal in manner
and attire, but visually dazzling. Most weddings
take place on Saturday afternoons.
Souvenir Store
Evergreen
7 9
Forest
Amulets, incense,
Much of the grounds are talismans, lucky arrows,
densely forested. More key rings strung with a
than 120,000 trees and tiny shrine bell, and mod­
shrubs form a natural els of tanuki (raccoon­
garden of Japanese flora. dog deity) are sold here.

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