Walking Around Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan

(April, 2019).  Meiji Shrine is always a good idea.  The first time I visited was back in 2015 with my brother and sister-in-law, and for this trip with my Mom and a couple of other brothers I knew they would love to see this tranquil place.

Meiji Shrine and its surrounding park is beautiful.  It's a nice break from the city.  Quiet.  Peaceful.  A true escape.  Perhaps if I ever got to visit Tokyo again it would be good to visit other parks to compare, just to simply see more of the city, but Meiji shrine, which is close to Harajuku, is worth the visit.  Both times I loved it.  Both visits I enjoyed seeing the trees.

The Reality of Stars, an original poem

Dark nights have long since passed,

Their tales of woe forgot. 

Do wolves still howl at beaming moons?

Do stars still spell of stories warn?

Legends lost as light spreads over

Rivers, trees, and moors.

No darkness creeps,

Nor nothing weeps over silvery ghostly yarns. 

Nearby villagers often ask,

Wondering of the start,

When did Nighttime lose his might?

Truth is long forgot. 

Village elders tell their tales,

Remembering twilight's past.

They tell when Night would fill the sky,

Before it came to naught.

Earth would cool,

Stars would beam,

Shadows of time still had a seam.

Now everyone dreams in light,

There seems to be no nighttime fright

Still, when did nighttime lose his might?

When children ask about the dark,
Tales of woe fancy their souls.
They wonder if there was a night,
Questions they'll always mourn.

~ Sarah Stufflebeam

(I haven't written a poem since that haiku back in September, 2018.  Thought it would be good to maybe start writing poems again.  It's a good practice. :0)

Meiji Shrine, Japan, Day 5 Part 1

 This week I plan on finishing and posting all the blog posts about my trip to Japan.

On our final full day in Japan my brother Michael, sister-in-law Krista, and I visited a few amazing spots around Tokyo city.  Our first stop was Meiji Shrine, which is located next to the Harajuku JR train station.  A few days previous we tried to visit Meiji Shrine, but we got there 5 minutes before closing.  The security guard let us through the closing gate, but we weren't able to see much, so we promised to return.

 This Shinto shrine honors Emperor Meiji, who died in 1912, and his wife Empress Shōken.  Construction started in 1915 and was finished in 1921.

The grounds are absolutely extraordinary.  From Wikipedia: "Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 70 hectares (170 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established."

All the trees were planted around 90 years ago!!  And yet it feels like you're walking through an old forest.  It's really quite beautiful, and a nice relaxing place to visit in the bustling city of Harajuku/Shinjuku.

 Trying to get our bearings.

The grounds are quite large and there's a few walking paths.

 Barrels of sake.

 Prayers and wishes.

 All the beautiful trees.

On our way to Asakusa and the Genza subway line.

(Photos by Michael and Sarah Stufflebeam)