The Marriage Trees in Shibuya, Tokyo
The Meiji Shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji & his wife. Emperor Meiji was a popular emperor who is especially known for relationships he built with other nations at a time when Japan was becoming more open to the outside world. It’s home to what is known as ‘The Marriage Tree,’ two trees which have intertwined, seen to symbolise love and happiness.
Japan’s answer to Tinder? The Meiji Shrine is a Shinto Shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. Emperor Meiji was a popular emperor who is especially known for relationships he built with other nations at a time when Japan was becoming more open to the outside world. As with many shrines in Japan it’s a beautiful place to visit, leave a prayer and give thanks but it’s also famous for another reason. It’s home to what is known as ‘The Marriage Tree,’ two trees which have intertwined, seen to symbolise love and happiness in relationships.
The trees are actually Camphor Trees, planted in 1920 when the shrine was built. Many see the way they have grown together to represent the love between Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. They are considered sacred and are said to give luck to those who visit.
The trees are popularly known as ‘Meoto Kusu,’ or husband and wife, single people flock to the shrine to make a request for love and marriage. I was reliably informed that many people believe that the trees have actually worked.
Love, marriage and happiness from the divine power of trees, what are you waiting for, it’s definitely an alternative to online dating…
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Faith Bleasdale
Faith Bleasdale grew up in Devon, studied History at Bristol University and then moved to London. After sampling a huge variety of jobs, she decided that she would put her passion for writing to good use. She has lived in London, Bristol, Brighton, and Singapore but moved home to Devon, which is where she grew up to have her son. Her son, who is the light of her life, has Down’s Syndrome and Autism so a big passion of Faith's is working for awareness and acceptance. She writes fiction under her own name and also Rachel Wells. As Rachel Wells she is the author of the Alfie The Doorstep Cat Series. She writes full time.
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