Exploring Togo Shrine, Harajuku: A Break From The Chaos of Kawaii
On our first ever trip to Harajuku, we visited the Togo Shrine. It was a moment of quiet in the heart of one of Tokyo’s busiest districts. Now we seek out the Togo Shrine to get a moment of calm and serenity in the middle of Tokyo’s kawaii capital.
The Togo Shrine is a Shinto Shrine and it sits right in the heart of the Harajuku district, just off Takeshito Street. It isn’t the oldest shrine in Tokyo, as it was only constructed just under a century ago. It was built to commemorate Japan’s naval war hero Heihachiro Togo and it is nestled amongst the trees, making you almost forget that you’re in the heart of the world’s busiest city.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Togo Shrine in Tokyo:
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What Are The Opening Hours Of The Togo Shrine?
The Togo Shrine is open seven days a week, from 6am – 5pm.
With other shrines in Tokyo, I recommend arriving early to beat the crowds, but because this shrine flies under the radar and doesn’t attract hoards of tourists, you really can visit at any time. We’ve visited during the middle of the day and just before the Togo shrine closed, and we’ve never seen more than half a dozen other people there.
This is a great place to visit when you need a break from Harajuku OR if you arrive in Harajuku early (many of the shops don’t open until 10am or 11am) and have some time to kill, this is the perfect place to kill it!
The Togo Shrine is close to, but shouldn’t be confused with, the much larger Meiji Jingu Shrine that is also near by.
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How To Get To The Togo Shrine
The address of the Togo Shrine is 1-5-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan.
There are several entrances to the Togo Shrine, but because we always visit when taking a break from our explorations in Harajuku, we enter via the access point from Takeshita-dori Avenue. When you’re walking down Takeshita Street from Harajuku Station, you will see a small alley on your left hand side (this alley is between two stores selling crepes and close to the public toilets on the street).
Walk through the wooden tori gate (this is in its natural wooden state rather than painted in trademark red) and then up the staircase. This is the fastest, and the easiest, way to reach the Togo Shrine from Takeshita Street.
Note: As the walk to the shrine via this route you will also pass a small school on your left hand side. My boys liked this almost as much as the shrine, and enjoyed seeing children just like them playing in their playground on the other side of the world. But obviously please don’t stop and take pictures of children playing!
Why Visit The Togo Shrine
I’m not going to lie and say that this is the biggest or best shrine in Tokyo: it’s rather small and unassuming in fact. But it’s location in the heart of Harajuku makes for such a fascinating juxtaposition, and if you need a break from the crowds and the chaos then there’s nowhere better to be!
It’s also worth noting that because it is smaller, less known, and with less of an international reputation, the Togo shrine is much quieter. You won’t see hoards of other tourists here. Which means you can explore at your own pace.
When we visited in April the shrine looked especially petty, as its surrounding trees were filled with blossoms.
We had the shrine to ourselves except for two other parties, and we loved this as it meant we could take the time to understand shinto practices, wash our hands before we entered, read all the signage, learn how to bow correctly….things you just can’t do in the bigger, cram packed shrines.
By contrast, the Meji Jingu Shrine is close by (around a 10 minute walk), much bigger and well worth visiting, but it is also one of the busiest in Tokyo.
👉 Read all about Visiting The Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo With Kids. A Fascinating History Lesson!
The History of the Togo Shrine
Interested in learning a little more about the history of the Togo Shrine? I’ve already mentioned that the shrine honors Admiral Heihachiro Togo, Japan’s celebrated naval hero from the Russo-Japanese War. It was actually constructed during WWII in 1940 (at a time when heros of the past became particularly important symbols in Japan) but it was then destroyed in WWII bombings, and rebuilt in 1964.
It always amazes me when I visit the more modern shrines and temples in Japan, because they are still constructed in such a traditional way that it’s very hard to tell in parts that they are such modern structures.
If you like to buy charms when you visit Japan’s shrines then the charms in the Togo Shrine are worth taking a trip for. You can choose from a unique blend of traditional Shinto or modern Harajuku culture inspired charms, including Hello Kitty items. I believe this is the only shrine in Japan that has these Hello Kitty charms.
Final Thoughts and Further Reading
Although perhaps not worth seeking out in its own right, if you’re in Harajuku then the Togo Shrine is a small but perfectly formed modern shrine, and one that’s well worth exploring. The contrast between the bustle of Harajuku and the calm of the Togo shrine is one that I won’t ever forget, and the shrine experience only enhanced our time in Harajuku.
Are you visiting Harajuku? Wondering what else you should do during your visit? Check out:
🛍 Harajuku With Kids: The Best Things To Do For The Whole Family!
👉 Our Day in Harajuku With Kids – What We Loved, What Surprised Us, and Why We’d Go Again
👉Ultimate 5-Days Tokyo Itinerary for Families: Full Guide For Travelling With Kids
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
