Originally constructed in 1895, Heian Jingû was built as a scaled-down version of the original Imperial Palace in Kyoto built in 794. Because of the Meiji Emperor and his quest to return Japan to a nation of Imperial power, many monuments like Heian Jingû were constructed to glorify the return of Imperial political power. Heian Jingû was built to commemorate the 1,100th year anniversary of the construction of the capital of Heian-kyô where the Emperor resided until Emperor Meiji moved the capital to the samurai capital of Edo, renaming the city Tokyo in the process. Enshrined are two emperors, Emperor Kanmu who founded the capital of Heian-kyô and Emperor Komei, the father of the Meiji Emperor and the last emperor to permanently reside in the Heian-kyô capital.

For the casual: 8. For the educated: 8.

Heian Jingû is one of the least shrine-like shrines that I visited simply because of how ostentatious it is. Usually, shrines have a very strong natural element and this applies to even to shrines that were in the center of metropolitan areas. Now that being said, this is not a criticism of Heian Jingû. The shrine may not have the same kind of natural balance that the other shrines do, but it does have a garden around the side and the back. The garden is the only part of the shrine that requires a ticket. I really felt that Heian Jingû was really beautiful for the shrine that it is and what it represents.

Heian Jingû is also known for its massive tori gates which are 24.2 meters (79.4 ft.) tall.

Of all the shrines in the Tokyo area, this one has to be the most sacred. Meiji Jingû is a massive shrine complex in the middle of a forest between Shinjuku and Shibuya. Not only is the shrine an amazing achievement, but the landscaping is also of great significance. The forest which surrounds the shrine is forbidden to everyone except the grounds keepers who maintain it every few years, and all the trees are donations to the shrine from around Japan and the world. Enshrined at Meiji Jingû are Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji restored political power to the Imperial Throne after centuries of political power held first by the aristocrats and then the warriors from the 12th century to 1868 when the Meiji Emperor assumed control. It was Emperor Meiji who transformed Japan from the "feudalistic" society of war lords and vassals to an industrial and imperialistic nation by asking for officers and politicians from Europe to help train the new leaders of Japan.

For the casual: 8. For the educated: 10.

Meiji Jingû is a monumental shrine which is only accessable by dirt roads which visitors walk down. Along these roads, huge wooden tori designate the way to the shrine. In April the inner sanctum of the shrine is opened for the only time in the year to pay respects to Emperor Meiji and his wife, and in typical Japanese fashion, unless you are a major contributor to the shrine, visitors cannot see anything. Weddings and ceremonies of all sorts are held throughout the year, and on New Years, as with at most shrines in Japan, casks of sake (and French wine at Meiji Jingû) are opened on New Years. The shrine is not the expected sort of flamboyance or design that may fit in the minds of many, and with the growing popularity of Harajuku, the famed shopping district quite literally across the bridge from the shrine entrance, Meiji Jingû does not always have the same pull for everyone. All the same, even if it doesn't seem particularly special to the casual viewer, it is an incredible place to go with the iris gardens opening in May/June.