Meiji Jingu

Anyone walking the streets of Tokyo should be forgiven for seeking refuge from the bustle of the busy capital. That craving for calm compels many people to pass through the two 40-foot-high torii gates of Meiji Jingu. Its sacred gardens and Shinto shrine were constructed as meeting places where everyday people and the divine could commingle.

Though serenity sets in upon entry, to stroll through the shrine is to almost certainly be struck by this display of gorgeous, intricately designed barrels.

Komodaru are barrels that hold sake, or rice wine. They are used at the shrine as an offering for resident deities, delivered in style by those hoping to pay their respects or seek blessings. The sacred, ceremonial practice of offering the containers serves as a prayer and an act of reverence to the spirits. Typically, multiple empty barrels are left along with one full barrel for worshippers and the divine to enjoy together.

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