To fully appreciate Meiji Jingu, Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrine, you should plan to spend between 1.5 to 3 hours. The experience begins long before you reach the main shrine buildings, as you must walk through a massive, tranquil forest of over 100,000 trees that creates a profound sense of isolation from the surrounding city. A slow walk from the iconic Harajuku torii gate to the main honden (sanctuary) takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You will want extra time to observe the wall of decorative sake barrels, participate in traditional Shinto rituals like temizu (hand purification), and perhaps write an ema (votive tablet). If you visit during the summer, the Meiji Jingu Inner Garden (famous for its irises) requires an additional 45 minutes and a small entry fee. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, you might even see a traditional Shinto wedding procession, which is a slow-moving, beautiful spectacle. Afterward, most visitors spend time at the nearby Meiji Jingu Museum or the forest cafe, making it a perfect half-day morning excursion before exploring the high-energy streets of Harajuku or Omotesando.