Meiji Jingu Inner Garden (Jingu Nai-en or Gyoen)

The garden was built in the early Edo Period (1603-1867) by Lord Kato of Kumamoto. Kato
is credited with finally finishing the building of Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan's three
great castles, in 1610.
Meiji Jingu Inner Garden is not large (83,000 square meters), but is definitely worth the 500
yen entrance fee. The highlight of the garden is the iris garden, which is in full bloom from
late May through late June. There are 1,500 iris plants of 150 species in the garden.

The garden is also surrounded by magnificent Japanese maples and other plants and trees
There is also a separate azalea garden as well. Best seen in late April, some of the azalea trees
are over 100 years old.

- NAN-CHI POND

One of the first things visitors will find upon entrance is tranquil Nan-Chi Pond, which is
8,300 square meters of pure spring water. Some of the carp present are said to be the
offspring of the carp originally released into the pond by Emperor Meiji one hundred years
ago. Another garden highlight is Kiyomasa's well, touted as one of the most famous wells of
the Edo Period.

Year round the water remains at 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).The well water
irrigates the iris garden and feeds water to the Nan-Chi Pond.

Overlooking the pond is Kakuun-tei, a teahouse built on the order of Emperor Meiji to be a
rest house for Empress Shoken.

- MEIJI JINGU SHRINE ACCESS

Meiji Shrine can be easily reached from the Omotesando Exit of Harajuku Station on the JR
Yamanote Line, Meiji-jingu-mae Station on the Chiyoda Subway Line or Kita-sando Station
on the Fukutoshin Line of the Tokyo metro.
Meiji Jingu Inner Garden (Jingu Nai-en or Gyoen)
Edo jidai shoki (1603 ~ 1867) ni Kumamoto no Katō hanshu ni yotte zōen sa remashita. Katō
wa, 1610-nen ni Nihon sanmeijō no 1-tsudearu Kumamoto shiro o kansei sa seta to sa rete
imasu. Meijijingūnaien wa, 83, 000 heihō mētoru to sorehodo hiroku wa arimasenga, 500-en
no nyūjō-ryō o harau kachi wa machigainaku arimasu. Midokoro wa 5 tsuki gejun kara 6
tsuki gejun ni kakete migoro o mukaeru ayame-en. En'nai ni wa 150-shu 1, 500-kabu no
ayame ga ue rarete imasu. Teien wa mata, sōdaina momiji ya hoka no shokubutsu ya kigi ni
kakoma rete imasu. Betsu no tsutsuji-en mo arimasu. Migoro wa 4 tsuki gejun de, nakaniha
jurei 100-nen o koeru tsutsuji mo.