Meiji-jingu shrine~a shrine in a everlasting forest

The closest station to Meiji-jingu shrine is the Harajuku station, surrounded by areas such as Omotesando and Takeshita street which are a center of Japanese youth culture and fashion. The station building was built in 1924 and is the oldest wooden station building existing in Tokyo.
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Jingubashi bridge spanning over the Yamanote line leads to Meiji-jingu shrine.
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The street leading to the Jingubashi bridge is Omotesando street, originally created as the frontal approach to the Meiji-jingu shrine.
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After crossing the Jingubashi bridge, the path leads into a dense forest. It is the entrance to Meiji-jingu shrine.
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The first torii in Meiji-jingu shrine.
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The path leading to the main shrine is the "Minami sando", the south approach.
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Barrels of sake donated to the shrine from sake brewers throughout Japan.
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Barrels of wine can be seen on the other side of the path from the sake barrels. These were donated to the shrine from France since Emperor Meiji, the main deity of the shrine, liked wine.
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The second torii is the "Otorii", big torii. It is 12m high and is one of the largest wooden torii in Japan.
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It is the second torii to be built in its place after the original torii was damaged by lightning. It is made by a Hinoki, Japanese cypress, aged more than 1500 years.
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Looking back at "Otorii".
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Going around the last corner on the approach to the main shrine.
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The third torii is the "Minami-tamagaki torii". It is the last torii on the approach to the main shrine.
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The torii was rebuilt this year(2017), looking forwards to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the shrine in 2020.
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"Minami-tamagaki torii" from the front.
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"Minami-tamagaki torii" from the back.
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The new torii made from Hinoki.
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Looking back at the "Minami-tamagaki torii" and the approach.
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The "Minami-jimmon gate" is right after the "Minami-tamagaki torii". It is the entrance to the main shrine.
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The heart like pattern which can be seen on the "Minami-jimmon gate" is called "Inome (Meaning: eye of a boar)". It is believed to bring good luck and is a protection against evil spirits. It can be seen in many historic buildings in Japan.
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Latticework of chrysanthemum can be seen on the door of "Minami-jinmon gate". The Imperial chrysanthemum emblem has 16 petals but the chrysanthemum emblem of Meiji-jingu shrine has only 12, in respect to the Imperial house.
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Looking at the approach through the "Minami-jinmon gate".
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Repair works are under way, looking forwards to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the shrine in 2020.
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Most structures in the shrine were destroyed by air raids during the war. "Minami-jinmon gate" is one of the few structures which remain from when the the shrine was founded.
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New sheet metal can be seen on the roof of the corridors surrounding the main yard.
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The main shrine consists of 3 buildings, the Outer worship hall, the Inner worship hall and the Main hall. Visitors of the shrine worships from the Outer worship hall and cannot see the Main hall located behind the Inner worship hall. The main shrine is under repair works and covered by sheets.
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"Goshinboku", sacred trees, stand on both sides of the Outer worship hall. The pair of trees on the left are called "Meotokusu (Meaning: a couple camphor tree)" and is to have special powers for couple harmony and matchmaking.
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There is a fine camphor tree on the right side too.
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There are gates on the left side and the right side of the main shrine and are called "West-shimmon gate" and "East-shimmon gate".
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Leaving the main shrine. Walking the "Kita-sando", the north approach to the shrine. "Kita-sando" leads to Yoyogi station and "Gaien", the outer gardens of Meiji-jingu shrine.
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The forest that covers the area is a man-made forest. More than 100 thousand trees were planted and it was designed so that it will eventually change into a natural forest after a few hundred years.
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Skyscrapers seen from "Kitasando". The quiet forest make people forget that they are in a big city, Tokyo.
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The torii on "Kitasando" is a fine torii made by Hinoki too.
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The entrace of "Kitasando".
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Leaving Meiji-jingu shrine.
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The street leading from "Kitasando" crosses the Yamanote line and leads to "Gaien", the outer gardens of Meiji-jingu shrine.
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"Goshuin" of Meiji-jingu shrine.