Location:
June is the month of the iris flower blooming season in Tokyo. The Meiji Shrine Inner Garden or Meiji Shrine iris Garden is filled with beautiful iris flowers.
The Meiji Jingu iris Garden is inside the Meiji Shrine‘s boundary, adjacent to Harajuku Takeshita Street, Yoyogi Park, and Meiji Shrine, situated in Shibuya.
The garden entrance starts from Meiji Shrine‘s Sake Barrels Boards. At the same time, people can use the second gates that start from Second Torii Gate.
Meiji Shrine iris Garden is only 3 minutes wall from both entrances.
Inner Garden:
The inner garden is huge. It is around 83,000 square meters.
Every different season flowers bloom here.
During the Edo Period(1603-1867), this beautiful garden was a property of the Kato Kiyomasa and Ii clan.
However, the garden was added to the Meiji Shrine.
According to history, the garden was lovely. Even Emperor Meiji visited it with Empress Shoken several times.
Meiji Shrine iris Garden has a nice teahouse, Kaku-un-tei, Nan-Chi(South Pond) Iris garden, Gazebo, and Kiyomasa well.
Kaku-un-tei:
The official name of the teahouse is Kaku-un-tei.
The teahouse is located on the hill slope near the pond. It is small but gorgeous with surrounded by a garden.
Kaku-un-tei was first built in 1900 by order of Emperor Meiji for Empress Shoken. But it was damaged by fire.
The present Kaku-un-tei was built in 1958.
Beautiful azaleas bloom around the teahouse from early April to early May.
Pond:
The name of the pond is Nan-Chi, which means South Pond.
The pond is about 8,000 square meters.
It is a lovely pond.
At the same time, it is famous for water lilies and waterfowl. Many people call it a paradise of waterfowl.
Water lilies and iris flowers bloom almost at the same time.
So, those who visit the iris garden in mid-June can see beautiful water lilies at the pond.
Iris Garden:
This Iris Garden is part of the Meiji Shrine Inner Garden.
The iris in the Meiji Shrine iris Garden bloom in early June and last till mid-June.
It is the best attraction in June. People line up at the entrance to visit the lovely iris flowers.
The garden stretches Kiyomasa well to the South Pond.
It has 1,500 iris plants and 150 varieties.
Gazebo:
The Gazebo is in the middle of the iris garden. It is located between the hill and Iris garden.
Iris garden is in the east, and the hill is in the west.
Moreover, the Gazebo is the best place to enjoy iris flowers in June.
Kiyomasa’s well:
The official name of the well is Kiyomasa-Ido, which means Kiyomasa Well.
On the other hand, Kiyomasa’s name came from the previous owner, Kiyomasa.
Yes, it looks like natural well. A clean stone well.
However, it is actually a fountain. Clean water gushes out from the fountain.
The water is the source of Iris garden and South Pond.
In short, Kiyomasa’s Well is the main source of the Meiji Shrine Inner Garden.
In conclusion, the Meiji Shrine iris Garden is not famous as Mizumoto Iris Garden or Horikiri Iris Garden.
However, it is the perfect place to enjoy lovely iris flowers in the heart of bustling Tokyo.
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Admission: 500 yen
Access:
Meiji Jingumae Station
3 minutes walk
Harajuku Station
JR Yamanote Line
3 minutes walk
Address:
Meiji Shrine Inner Garden
1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8557
Official website: Meiji Shrine
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