🍷 The wine barrels in Meiji-jingu Park come from France, specifically from renowned Burgundy wineries. They were presented to the shrine as a symbolic donation and stand opposite the traditional sake barrels from Japanese breweries.
🎌 What do they represent?
- The wine barrels symbolize Japan's cultural opening to the Western world during the Meiji period.
- They are a symbol of friendship between Japan and France, particularly in the context of culinary culture and diplomacy.
- Like the sake barrels, they are decorative barrels (飾り樽, kazaridaru) – empty and purely symbolic.
🌿 You'll find them along the main path to the shrine, nestled in the tranquil forest that marks the transition from the big city to the spiritual world. A beautiful example of how Meiji Shrine combines tradition and modernity.
If you like, I can also tell you about the meaning of the sake barrels or the architecture of the shrine – or we can explore other hidden symbols in Tokyo!