Meiji Shrine holds tanka contest on 18 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 04:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) in Tokyo held its 155th Tanka Contest on 18 October 2026, linking a public poetry programme with the shrine's autumn grand festival. The official notice listed a 10am poetry presentation at the main shrine and a 1pm gathering at the Assembly Hall.
Meiji Shrine marks 18 October with a tanka contest
The event was the 155th edition of the shrine's poetry gathering. The programme included the announcement of selected poems, awards and comments from the judges, followed by a lecture on family poems by modern and contemporary poet Saito Mokichi.
The event was organised by the Meiji Shrine Poetry Association and the Meiji Memorial Comprehensive Poetry Gathering. The notice named Umemai Mikako, Oshita Kazumasa, Fujiwara Ryuichiro and Matsudaira Meiko among the judges, while poet Hiroshi Yoshikawa was listed for the lecture.
The official announcement said that the 10am presentation took place at the main shrine and that the contest began at 1pm at the Assembly Hall. It also said that visitors were given a collection of the submitted works, connecting the literary programme with a specific part of the wider religious complex. The official event notice gives the date, venues and programme.
The autumn programme places poetry inside a Shinto complex
The contest formed part of the celebrations for the shrine's autumn grand festival. Rather than taking place in a separate city venue, its two principal elements used the main shrine and the Assembly Hall, giving the literary event a direct link to the site visitors come to see.
The grounds are a Shinto shrine complex in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. The operator's English information gives the address as 1-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-cho and describes the site as open throughout the year. Its visitor guidance also states that the grounds open with sunrise and close with sunset, so the usable time for a visit changes through the seasons.
For the next autumn edge of the programme, the operator lists opening at 5.40am and closing at 4.40pm in October. In November, the gates open at 6.10am and close at 4.10pm. These times matter for visitors combining the shrine grounds with the autumn festival's cultural events. The operator's visiting guidance sets out the monthly schedule.
Visiting Meiji Shrine: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The 155th Tanka Contest took place on 18 October 2026, with the poetry presentation at 10am at the main shrine and the contest at 1pm at the Assembly Hall.
- The shrine grounds open with sunrise and close with sunset. The official table gives a 4.40pm closing time for October and a 4.10pm closing time for November.
- The official address is 1-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The operator describes the site as a lush natural setting within Tokyo.
- Visitors should observe the shrine's photography rule: photography is prohibited in front of the main shrine where people are praying, and the operator also asks visitors not to photograph the amulet office.
- Entry to the shrine itself has no admission fee, although the operator says that some facilities in the precinct charge separately. The operator's visitor questions explain the distinction.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Meiji Shrine
When did the 155th Tanka Contest take place at Meiji Shrine?
The contest took place on 18 October 2026. Its programme included a 10am presentation at the main shrine and a 1pm gathering at the Assembly Hall.
Where is Meiji Shrine and how do you get there?
It is at 1-1 Yoyogi Kamizono-cho in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The operator's visitor page provides the official address and access information.
What is Meiji Shrine?
It is a Shinto shrine complex in Tokyo with grounds that open at sunrise and close at sunset. The operator says the shrine itself has no admission fee, while some facilities in the precinct charge separately.
