Harajuku Walking Guide — An Ukiyo-e Museum and Shrines Tucked Between the Crowds

Around Meiji-jingumae "Harajuku" Station (明治神宮前〈原宿〉駅) in Tokyo, five walking spots are gathered, ranging from a museum devoted to ukiyo-e prints to three shrines and a temple. All five list Meiji-jingumae Station as their nearest station: the Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art is a 1-minute walk, while Togo Shrine, Onden Shrine, Chosenji Temple and Kitaya Inari Shrine sit within 5 to 8 minutes on foot. Because shrines and temples are wedged between blocks of shops and commercial buildings, the walk moves back and forth between busy streets and quiet grounds every few minutes.

A suggested order

Settle in first at the Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art, a 1-minute walk from the station, then head to Togo Shrine, 5 minutes on foot. From there trace Onden Shrine (a 6-minute walk) and Chosenji Temple (also 6 minutes), both between Harajuku and Omotesando, and finish at Kitaya Inari Shrine, 8 minutes from the station. Since that last stop is in Jinnan, Shibuya Ward, you can carry straight on toward Shibuya. The museum is open 10:30–17:30 from Tuesday to Sunday, so starting in the morning makes all five fit comfortably into one day.

Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art — a 1-minute walk

A museum specializing in ukiyo-e, opened in 1980 around the collection assembled by the businessman Seizo Ota. It stands on a quiet street one block off Omotesando, and visitors take off their shoes to go inside. It is open 10:30–17:30, Tuesday to Sunday. After walking through the crowds of Harajuku, this is where you can sit down and spend time with the prints.

Togo Shrine — a 5-minute walk

Founded in 1940 (Showa 15), this shrine enshrines Heihachiro Togo, who led the Combined Fleet in the Russo-Japanese War. Although it is right beside Takeshita-dori, the grounds open into a garden with a pond, and small paths let you walk around the water. Admission is free (入場無料). The surprise here is how completely the air changes just a few minutes from the busy street.

Onden Shrine — a 6-minute walk

A shrine in a corner between Harajuku and Omotesando, a short walk from Meiji-jingumae Station. "Onden" is the old place name for this area, and the shrine was long worshipped as its tutelary deity. The grounds are quiet enough that it is hard to believe the crowded street is only minutes away, and the stand of trees gives you somewhere to catch your breath — a reminder of the town's earlier form.

Chosenji Temple — a 6-minute walk

A temple within walking distance of Meiji-jingumae Station. Harajuku and Jingumae are lined with commercial buildings, yet temples and shrines are dotted among them. When you want to step away from the crowds, tracing places like this shows you a different face of the same neighborhood, so it is worth building into your route.

Kitaya Inari Shrine — an 8-minute walk

An Inari shrine in a block surrounded by office buildings in Jinnan, Shibuya Ward. It is within walking distance of both Shibuya and Harajuku, and once you pass through the torii gate the air changes from the crowded street outside. Keep it in mind as a small detour to add while walking through the center of the city.

One last tip

Four of the five spots are shrine or temple grounds, so wear shoes that are easy to walk in — and easy to slip off, since you remove them at the Ota Memorial Museum. Monday is not among the museum's opening days (Tuesday to Sunday), so if you are walking on a Monday, build the route around the shrines and the temple instead.