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Meiji shrine is really beautiful and really spiritual. It is near Harajuku, in Tokyo. It is said that is was dedicated to the emperor's wife to protect from evil spirits. (Emperor Meiji). It starts off with this big gate made out of dark wood. You can't walk through the middle though because it is where the gods are supposed to walk. We have to walk on the sides out of respect.
While walking through the shrine, there are barrels of sake which is fermented rice. They have art on them and are very beautiful. The thing is, they do not contain sake in them. Sake has been a drink the gathers gods and humans together, so having the barrels there is like a welcome to both. They are also very nice to look at in general.
After walking through another gate that looks the same as the entrance you come closer to the shrine. You enter a small gate and go to wash your hands at a fountain like area. This is to cleanse you before making your prayer at the shrine. You take the ladle, and you dip it in the water. You rinse your left hand first, then your right. After you fill up your left hand with water, rinse your mouth and then spit and wash your left hand again. After all that, you angle to ladle up so the water trickles down the handle clean it. Then you put it back. This is my favorite part of the shrine because there is nothing like this in America.
Finally you go to make your prayer. You go up to the shrine, through money in the box, bow twice, clap twice, pray and then bow again. You walk down the steps and you can still do multiple things. You can buy a plaque of wood and write down wishes and hand them up for all to see, or make private paper ones instead that go into a box. Or you can buy a charm for the year. I bought one to help raise grades. Then you can leave but not without hearing the calls of the crows that are as big as one's face.
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