Japan: Tokyo – Meiji Shrine

The Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji (who died in 1912) and his wife Empress Shoken (who died in 1914). The shrine was built in 1920 (the actual bodies are buried in Kyoto). it is one of the most important and revered shrines in Japan and was established to honor the spirits of the royal couple and their contributions to Japan’s modernization. The shrine is quite crowded. An interesting feature are two walls – one of sale and one of burgundy wine – donated to the shrine.