The Meiji Jingu Museum opened up on the forest grounds of the Meiji Jingu shrine in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, in October last year to commemorate 100 years since the shrine was founded.
The two-story structure, which stands along the walkway to the shrine, is designed to mesh seamlessly with the surrounding scenery with the limit on the height of its eaves. The outer walls feature an elaborately patterned textured finish. Items related to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who are enshrined at Meiji Jingu, greet visitors inside the museum.
Meiji Jingu was built in November 1920. About 100,000 trees -- donated from across the nation -- were planted in the initially desolate land as builders envisioned the site 50, 100 and 150 years into the future.
The man-made forest now covers an area of about 730,000 square meters.
Such history is explained through miniature dioramas and other items at its Prayers and the Forest gallery on the first floor of the museum. Among the displays is a headdress worn by miko shrine maidens when performing a dance. A video about the museum staff also is presented.
The most notable exhibit at Meiji Jingu Imperial Collections on the second floor is a British-made Six-Horse-Drawn State Carriage.
Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken used it on Feb. 11, 1889, when the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was promulgated during a military review at the Aoyama drill court, once located at what is now the Meiji Jingu Gaien area.
It had long been on display at the Meiji Jingu Treasure Museum, which has been closed since 2017.
Thanks to restoration efforts, along with the move of the carriage from the Meiji Jingu Treasure Museum to the Meiji Jingu Museum, its wheels were cleaned and their red color enhanced. The golden phoenix figure atop the carriage is also beautiful and solemn.
Among other displays are a colored shikishi card on which Empress Shoken wrote waka poems and items used by Emperor Meiji, including a stately desk, a military uniform, books and two paperweights.
A pencil used by Emperor Meiji, until it became too short, shows his personality valuing simplicity and frugality.
Visitors can enjoy a view of the walkway, lined with trees on both sides, from the window of the second-floor lobby.
"The inside of the building, which is designed to blend in with the Meiji Shrine forest, is a healing space where you can enjoy sunbeams streaming past tree leaves. I want visitors to feel relaxed and take in the atmosphere of the Meiji era," said 30-year-old curator Reina Tanaka.
Meiji Jingu Museum: 1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizono, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo
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