Meiji Shrine hosts centenary exhibition from 26 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 08:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Meiji Shrine and its museum, ????, are hosting the centenary exhibition Approaching the Giant Murals of the Seitoku Memorial Picture Gallery in Tokyo from 26 September 2026. The exhibition marks the 100th anniversary of the Meiji Jingu Gaien outer precinct, founded in 1926, and remains on view until 6 December 2026.
The show is staged at the Meiji Jingu Museum, rather than the Seitoku Memorial Picture Gallery itself. This gives visitors in Japan a way to see original works from the closed gallery during its building renovation.
Meiji Shrine exhibition opens for the Gaien centenary
The exhibition is organised by Meiji Shrine and focuses on the artists who created the large historical paintings in the gallery. The shrine’s official programme says six original murals will be displayed across the full run, with two works changing in each of three phases. Related works by the mural artists are also included.
The first phase runs from 26 September to 11 October 2026 under the title Historical Painting Patronage. It examines the people and organisations who supported the creation of the gallery, with the murals Audience at the Tomioka Silk Mill by Arai Kanpo and Restoration of Imperial Rule by Shimada Bokusen. The official exhibition programme also lists associated museum works and workshops.
The middle phase is scheduled for 17 October to 8 November 2026. It considers artists reaching the 150th anniversary of their birth, while the final phase runs from 14 November to 6 December 2026 and examines Western-style painters who travelled abroad and their artistic relationships.
Meiji Shrine links the exhibition to its surrounding history
The centenary concerns the wider Meiji Jingu Gaien complex, while the exhibition venue is inside the shrine precinct at the Meiji Jingu Museum. The original gallery remains closed for renovation until 2027, so the museum is displaying two murals at a time instead of presenting the full set in its usual home.
The arrangement also connects the exhibition to the shrine’s wider cultural programme. The official notice names lectures in October and November, including sessions on Shimada Bokusen, Arai Kanpo, Kimura Buzan and Kita Renz?. A workshop on silk production was scheduled for 26 and 27 September 2026, linking the first display phase with the history of the Tomioka Silk Mill.
The museum’s phase-by-phase exhibition details state that the displayed works change between the first, middle and final sections. Visitors therefore encounter a different selection after each changeover period.
Visiting Meiji Shrine: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The exhibition runs at the Meiji Jingu Museum from 26 September to 6 December 2026. Its first phase ends on 11 October, the middle phase runs from 17 October to 8 November, and the final phase runs from 14 November to 6 December.
- The museum opens from 10am to 4.30pm, with final admission at 4pm. It closes on Thursdays, except 22 October 2026, and also closes during the changeover periods from 12 to 16 October and from 9 to 13 November.
- The museum is at 1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo. The exhibition information gives access from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line and Meiji-Jingumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines.
- The shrine grounds open daily throughout the year, from sunrise to sunset. The official October schedule lists opening at 5.40am and closing at 4.40pm.
- Japan’s official language is Japanese and the national currency is the yen.
- 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 does the centenary exhibition take place at Meiji Shrine?
The exhibition runs from 26 September to 6 December 2026 at the Meiji Jingu Museum in Tokyo, in three changing phases.
What can visitors see at Meiji Shrine’s centenary exhibition?
Visitors can see six original giant murals from the Seitoku Memorial Picture Gallery, displayed two at a time, alongside related works by the artists.
Where is Meiji Shrine and how do you get there?
The shrine is in Shibuya, Tokyo, with the museum accessible from Harajuku Station and Meiji-Jingumae Station.
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