Meiji Shrine, the largest urban green space in the core area of Tokyo

Cross the bridge west from Harajuku Station, pass through the famous Yoyogi Gymnasium, and a vast forest comes into view. You will definitely be surprised that there is such a large green space in the core area of this concrete jungle of Tokyo. This is indeed the largest public green space in the core area of Tokyo, and it has a more important identity - Meiji Shrine. Friends familiar with history will certainly not be unfamiliar with Emperor Meiji, a figure full of contradictions for Chinese people. In the second half of the 19th century, he led Japan, which was closed and locked, towards modernization, allowing Japan to escape the fate of colonization with the Meiji Restoration, and made Japan the only non-Western power at the beginning of the 20th century through a series of successful military wars. Emperor Meiji's civil and military achievements also made him revered as the Great Emperor Meiji by the Japanese. Unfortunately, the biggest backdrop for Emperor Meiji's civil and military achievements was the Qing Dynasty at that time. Ironically, the Westernization Movement of the Qing Dynasty and the Meiji Restoration almost started at the same time, and the final result of the modernization reforms of China and Japan was the Sino-Japanese War. In high school, I thought more than once, if Emperor Tongzhi and Emperor Meiji were swapped at that time, perhaps China's fate would change. Of course, now that I am mature, I am very clear that it was not Emperor Meiji who shaped Japan, but Japan at that time shaped Emperor Meiji. If he was placed in the Qing Dynasty, he would not be able to make a difference. As for whether to visit Meiji Shrine, I think that as one of the largest shrines in Shinto, Meiji Shrine is absolutely worth a visit in terms of architecture, art, culture, etc. Just visit with an appreciation of culture. The entrance from Harajuku is the South Shrine Road, and the most eye-catching is undoubtedly the huge Torii, which is the largest wooden Torii in Japan. According to the belief of Shinto, the Torii is the boundary between the human world and the divine world. Entering the Torii is entering the divine realm, which is very interesting. The wide shrine road is flanked by huge forests. This large forest, which once belonged to the Yoyogi Imperial Garden of the Japanese royal family, was cultivated artificially after the war. It was completely wild in just half a century, becoming a natural forest in the core area of the metropolis that does not require human intervention, which is a miracle. There is also a very interesting attraction on both sides of the South Shrine Road, that is, the barrel of sake. On one side are sake barrels produced all over Japan, and on the other side are wine barrels from various Western countries. It is very spectacular and a good place for wine lovers to learn and research. Outside Meiji Shrine, there is also a royal garden called the Outer Garden of the Shrine. It is a large garden donated by the Japanese royal family to society. If you are interested in Japanese gardens, you can explore.