A stylish walk from the Man-made Forest of Meiji Shrine through Omotesando to Aoyama.

Meiji Shrine may not seem like it due to its vast size, but it’s said to be a forest created by human hands. The thought that each of the 100,000 donated trees was planted one by one makes it seem all the more a mysterious place.

This time, we start from Meiji Shrine.

It’s a large area, so there are many nearby stations. You can enter from Harajuku Station (JY19), Meiji-jingumae Station (C03, F15), Kita-Sando Station (F14), or Sangubashi Station (OH03).

Our destination this time is the Aoyama area. Places like the Nezu Museum and the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum are located there. If you walk straight along Omotesando, you’ll arrive without getting lost, but there are many SPOTs around Omotesando as well, so you might find yourself taking many detours and possibly struggling to reach your goal. Let’s walk while conserving our energy.

MEIJI JINGU

This shrine is dedicated to Emperor Meiji, as its name suggests. It resembles a vast, deep forest filled with greenery, though most of the trees were planted by people. Its fortunes are also unique, as they do not predict good or bad luck.

• FACILITY

THE BRIDGE HARAJUKU

Sarutahiko Coffee’s Harajuku store is located on the second floor of a building near Harajuku Station. It’s a great place to take a break when visiting Meiji Shrine or Yoyogi Park. The atmosphere is very pleasant.

• EAT

TAKESHITA ST

A well-known historic street for the youth. Recently, it has become cleaner and easier to navigate with many chain stores, but it still retains shops like the ever-popular crepe stands, offering a nostalgic atmosphere for all generations.

• PUBLIC

OMOTESANDO ST

The wide street that leads from Meiji Shrine to Omotesando Station is lined with high-end brand stores and beautiful trees. Venturing into the side streets, you’ll find numerous small shops offering clothing and food, making for an enjoyable detour.

• PUBLIC

TONKATSU MAISEN AOYAMA

The main store of “Mai-sen,” well-known from stations and department store basements, is housed in a renovated public bathhouse, which makes its interior quite enjoyable. At the street-facing shop, you can also purchase items like katsu sandwiches.

• EAT

A PIECE OF CAKE

A small cafe is located adjacent to the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum. Although a bit pricey, you can enjoy delicious homemade cakes and drinks. While overlooking the garden adorned with artworks, you can relax and forget that you’re in the middle of the city. If you have time, consider visiting the nearby Nezu Museum as well.

• EAT

This cafe is our final destination for this walk. Before entering the cafe, be sure to visit the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum as well. It’s the actual studio where Taro Okamoto lived.

And if time allows, the Nezu Museum is also just a short walk from here.

The straight-line distance of the entire route is just under 2 kilometers, but with detours, it might have been surprisingly longer.

The nearest station is Omotesando Station (G02/C04/Z02), which requires a bit of a walk back.

The route we walked today is lined with high-end brands along Omotesando, but you’ll find plenty of casual shops to enjoy once you venture into the side streets. It’s an old-fashioned stylish area, so it might feel a bit intimidating at first, but just think of it as a casual stroll and you can enjoy it easily.