Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku' Walking Guide — Hidden Shrines and Ukiyo-e Prints

The area around Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku' Station gathers 5 walking spots, ranging from shrines to a ukiyo-e art museum. Tucked between the rows of commercial buildings that define Harajuku and Jingumae are four temples and shrines — Togo Shrine, Onden Shrine, Kitadani Inari Shrine and Chosenji Temple — joined by the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, which specializes in ukiyo-e. All 5 spots list Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku' as their nearest station, so stepping just a few minutes off the crowded main streets is enough to meet a different face of the neighborhood.

Suggested order: From the station, [Togo Shrine](/en/spot/25b0813f-3cc3-423b-920e-b6be72cb94d7) → [Ota Memorial Museum of Art (Ukiyo-e)](/en/spot/62215697-741d-4b1f-9de6-dc3e59ec9c23) → [Onden Shrine](/en/spot/857cda1d-53eb-4400-81ee-b71c4f42c187) → [Chosenji Temple](/en/spot/43852e6d-250f-4dc2-8204-f49af18da622) → [Kitadani Inari Shrine](/en/spot/ed7d5742-7bc6-4737-a68d-b022c7c8cdd8). Kitadani Inari Shrine is within walking distance of Shibuya Station as well, so it works well as a closing stop if you want to continue toward Shibuya.

Togo Shrine

A shrine whose nearest station is Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku'. It sits right beside the bustle of Harajuku, yet the sounds of the street recede once you are inside the grounds. As the starting point of this walk, it lets you settle before setting off.

Ota Memorial Museum of Art (Ukiyo-e)

A museum devoted to ukiyo-e, also closest to Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku' Station. Build it into your route as the one place where you can step indoors and sit for a while. Being able to compare Edo-era prints with today's Harajuku streets on the same day is a pleasure specific to this location.

Onden Shrine

A shrine in a pocket of land between Harajuku and Omotesando, a short walk from Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku' Station. "Onden" is the old place name for this area, and the shrine was once worshipped as the guardian of this land. The grounds are so quiet that it is hard to believe you are only minutes from a busy street, and you can catch your breath under the trees. It is a place that reminds you of the town's earlier form.

Chosenji Temple

A temple within walking distance of Meiji-jingumae 'Harajuku' Station. Harajuku and Jingumae are streetscapes lined with commercial buildings, but temples and shrines are scattered in the gaps between them. When you want to walk a little away from the crowds, tracing places like this reveals a different expression of the same town. Try working it into your route.

Kitadani Inari Shrine

An Inari shrine in a corner of Jinnan, Shibuya Ward, surrounded by buildings. It is within walking distance of both Shibuya and Harajuku, yet the air changes from the crowded street the moment you pass through the torii gate. Worth remembering as a small detour you can fit in while walking through the center of the city.

One closing tip: Four of the 5 spots are temples or shrines, and all are within walking distance of the station. When the Harajuku crowds wear you down, remember the line that connects those four — one street off the main road, and the same town switches to a quieter face.