Great torii and sake barrels of Meiji Shrine

In front of you, lining the gravel path, are the stacked sake barrels of Meiji Shrine. You are in the heart of a forest, even though the bustle of Harajuku is only a few minutes away.

1Barrels for the gods

The barrels, decorated with the names and emblems of their breweries, are offerings from sake makers all over Japan. In Shintō, sake binds gods and people together, and it is offered during ceremonies. They are empty: these are kazaridaru, display barrels. Opposite you will find something unexpected: wine barrels donated by producers from Burgundy. They are a reminder that Emperor Meiji, who opened Japan up to the West, adopted European customs, among them wine at the table.

2The great gate

A little further on stands the great torii, the gate that marks the entrance to sacred ground. It is about twelve metres high and was made from Taiwanese cypress, from trees more than 1,500 years old that came from the mountains of Alishan. The original of 1920 was damaged by lightning in 1966, and the current one was put in place in 1975. It is one of the largest wooden torii in Japan.

It is customary to bow slightly before passing under the torii and not to walk down the middle of the path, which is considered reserved for the gods.

3What to look for

• The calligraphy on the sake barrels, each from a different brewery.
• The wine barrels, bearing the names of their châteaux.
• The thickness of the torii's pillars: step closer and size them up with your own eyes.