I have so many photos while I was at Meiji Shrine and it was only my second day of the trip I took in June 2015. This one is after the massive downpour of rain, and after my tour of the main shrine and buildings, and after my long walk in the rain to the back of the property to see the museum of emporers, and after a long walk toward the front entrance again.
I remembered that Michael Vankrey told me about an Iris Garden on this site that is easy to miss, and boy was he right. I had done almost everything on this site, including go to a kimono museum in the small area with vendors and food (not too far from the entrance). What's nice about Meiji is that it really is a full experience--not a "quick in and out" place, but many winding paths that lead to large parks and green spaces, along with buildings that house unexpected exhibits. And there are also random residences (I was in search of a bathroom at one point).
No one I approached spoke English anywhere. I remember that because I had something I needed to know or that someone was trying to tell me (can't really recall the incident, but I remember standing at the ticket window on the back of the property and the ticket person telling me something). This does not help you at all as I'm rambling (without editing--a hazard, I know).
Anyway, I passed the entrance to this magical place two times and then told myself I had to find the spot Michael told me about. And so I did. This is after you go down a set of long steps and some intricate paths. This was just exquisite. Up the way, winding to the bridge in the back of the photo is a wonderful well of some sorts (you wait in line to get a small cup full), and there is a great pond on the property along with lilies, frogs, turtles, and small buildings.
At the pond, there were some tourists (Asian) and they could not figure out their camera! I offered by gesturing that I would be happy to take their photographs for them and fix the camera since it was not really working right (they had it accidentally in video mode--was a tiny camera!). They were so nice and fun--all older, but two of the men looked to be best friends, joking and stuff.
I'll write more later...just trying to get some memories down and I'll sort them as I add more photos of this space. I had two angles to this shot, so here is the other:
