The forest surrounding this shrine is more than 150 acres so it is huge and there is supposed to be over 100,000 trees consisting of hundreds of species. Just exploring the forest is wonderful experience. This Gaien is a favorite place for young Japanese couples to get married or have their pictures taken.
If you are planning to visit in the near future, be aware that there is construction going on at the shrine and in the Gaien area.
I was fascinated by the huge display of sake barrels and I learned that in Japanese culture, having these sake barrels (empty) is a symbolic way to bring the gods and people together.
Whenever I am in Tokyo, I start here. Don't forget the inner gardens, although there is a small entrance fee. They offer a unique tranquility in this busy city.Afterwards, you can go to Yoyogi park, Shibuya or Harajuku.
They are doing a lot of work on the area to have it ready for the 2020 Olympics. The entrance path is being re-done and the face of a lot of the shrine itself is covered for the work to be completed. None the less, it was a beautiful, quiet, and humble area to come visit with all the surrounding trees and forests - in the middle of a bustling city! Such a relaxing and reflecting walk up to the shrine. Please educate yourself to the proper way to "cleanse" with the water before approaching. Also the proper way to bow before each gate before entering to show respect. Have a small coin to toss in.
The shrine itself was not that exciting, but it's also currently undergoing some construction, so you couldn't really see a lot of it. The gardens on the premises, however, were fantastic. The irises are in bloom right now, so it's a great time of year for it. There are also azalea gardens in the area, so earlier in the year is probably really nice there too. It's 500 yen to get into that section of the park, but for me it was totally worth it.
Go in the morning, enjoy the gardens and history and culture, eat Warm Soba Noodle Soup and Icecream at the Cafeteria
