Meiji Jingu

#japan Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a Shinto shrine located in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. The shrine does not contain the emperor’s grave, which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto. The shrine was built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, using primarily Japanese cypress and copper1. The construction began in 1915 and was completed in 1921. The shrine was a national project, with materials being utilized from every Japanese prefecture. The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund-raising effort and completed in October 1958. Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 70 hectares (170 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The shrine complex includes a treasure museum that houses articles of the Emperor and Empress. The museum is built in the Azekurazukuri style. The shrine is adjacent to Yoyogi Park which together forms a large forested area.