Stand in front of the worship hall and look left, and you'll see two large trees leaning into each other, branches stretched out like they're reaching for one another. Get closer and you'll notice they're bound together by a shimenawa rope, their canopies overlapping so completely they read as a single tree. This is Meoto Kusunoki — the "married camphors." This guide covers exactly where to find them, what they're believed to bring, how to set one as your phone wallpaper, and the etiquette and photo tips I picked up actually standing in front of them.
What Is Meoto Kusunoki?
Basic Facts: Height, Girth, and a Sacred Tree Since 1920
The two camphor trees that make up Meoto Kusunoki were donated when Meiji Shrine was founded in 1920. They stand around 17 meters tall, with trunk circumferences of roughly 3.66 meters and 3.17 meters. Their upper branches meet and interlock, which from a distance makes them look like one enormous tree — and that visual merging is exactly what gives the spot its reputation for strong, unbreakable bonds.
The trees are wrapped together with a shimenawa rope, marking the sacred connection between them while also serving the traditional purpose of warding off negative energy. That combination is what's made Meoto Kusunoki known as a power spot for relationships, marital harmony, and household safety.
Where the Name Comes From
The name "Meoto Kusunoki" — literally "married camphors" — reflects the close, devoted relationship between Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the couple this shrine honors. Two trees standing close together, appearing to merge into one, became a natural symbol for that bond. Camphor trees themselves have long held a special place in Japanese culture as a symbol of vitality, which is part of why they were chosen as goshinboku (sacred trees) here in the first place.
Where to Find It: Left of the Worship Hall
Meoto Kusunoki stands on the left side facing the worship hall. Trees stand roughly symmetrical on both sides of the hall's entrance, which makes it easy to mix up the two — look for the pair whose branches reach toward each other and appear to fuse into one canopy; that's the left-side pair, and that's Meoto Kusunoki.
For the prayer order, tradition holds it's more effective to pray at the main hall first, then pray again facing the worship hall from in front of Meoto Kusunoki. Worth keeping in mind if you want to do it the traditional way.
The Benefits: Love, Marital Harmony, and Household Safety
Meoto Kusunoki's reputation centers on relationships, marital harmony, and household safety — a direct nod to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken's famously close marriage, and one of the best-known power spots on the entire property. Couples sometimes hold hands while praying here as a small symbolic gesture of strengthening their bond (just be mindful of other visitors passing through).
In Shinto belief, a goshinboku acts as a bridge between the natural and the divine. Standing quietly by Meoto Kusunoki, holding a wish in mind, and bowing is something many visitors describe as genuinely calming — less about instant results and more about the moment of reflection itself.
Set It as Your Wallpaper
A photo of Meoto Kusunoki set as a phone wallpaper is said to bring marital harmony, a boost in love luck, and peace at home — the two trees leaning together read as a symbol of connection for couples specifically. Here's how to set one up if you want to try it.
On iPhone
- Save your Meoto Kusunoki photo to your phone
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Wallpaper → Add New Wallpaper
- Select the saved photo from your gallery
- Adjust position and zoom, then tap Set
- Choose Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both
On Android
- Save your Meoto Kusunoki photo
- Long-press an empty area of your home screen
- Tap the Wallpaper menu that appears
- Select the saved photo from your gallery
- Adjust size and position, then tap Set or Apply
- Choose Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Both to finish
Etiquette When Visiting
Since Meoto Kusunoki sits right in front of the worship hall, it's worth stopping here on your way in. As with any goshinboku, the basic etiquette is simple: pause, bow quietly, and settle your mind — hold your wish, and offer thanks along with your prayer.
Avoid touching the tree directly — that's the standard courtesy here. When photographing, keep a respectful distance and stay aware of other visitors moving through the area.
Photo Tips
Front-On Composition and Backlighting
Shooting straight on captures the full shape of both trees, and including the shimenawa and the worship hall in the background adds a real sense of sacredness. Since the trees stand fairly symmetrically in front of the hall, stepping back a bit to fit everything in frame works well.
The other technique worth trying: shooting backlit, catching sunlight as it filters through the gaps in the branches on a clear day. It adds real depth to the shot — I stopped in my tracks the first time I actually caught that moment. Just stay far enough back that you're not crowding the tree or blocking other visitors while you shoot.
Best Season to Visit
Spring brings soft new growth, and mornings right after sunrise tend to be quiet enough for an unhurried visit. In summer, the canopy deepens into a rich green, full of visible vitality — if the heat is a concern, cooler evening hours are worth considering. Autumn pairs the evergreen canopy against the changing colors along the approach, a contrast worth seeing. In winter, clear air sharpens the outline of the trees, and soft morning light does them justice. Across every season, early morning is consistently the calmest time to visit.
The Forest That Surrounds It
Meoto Kusunoki's camphor trees are part of a much bigger project: the roughly 100,000 trees, donated from across Japan and planted by an estimated 110,000 volunteers when the shrine was built in 1920. The forest was designed by forester Dr. Seiroku Honda and his team on a hundred-year (some accounts say 150-year) plan, choosing species specifically so the forest could mature and sustain itself without human intervention — nothing added, nothing removed, by design. That philosophy traces back to the older Japanese tradition of chinju no mori, sacred shrine forests understood as places where deities dwell among the trees. Standing at Meoto Kusunoki, you're standing inside that century-long experiment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where is Meoto Kusunoki?
A. On the left side facing the worship hall. Trees stand on both sides symmetrically, so look for the pair whose branches merge together — that's the one.
Q. How do you pronounce "Meoto Kusunoki"?
A. It's read "meoto-kusu." You may also see it written "meoto-gusu," but "meoto-kusu" is the standard reading used in official explanations.
Q. What are the benefits of visiting Meoto Kusunoki?
A. Relationships, marital harmony, and household safety. Praying at the main hall first, then again in front of Meoto Kusunoki, is considered the more effective order.
Q. Is there an omamori for marital harmony?
A. The shrine office sells charms related to relationships and marital harmony, though the specific types and prices change over time — check directly at the counter when you visit.
Q. What is special about Meiji Shrine?
A. Its entirely man-made forest — roughly 100,000 trees planted by 110,000 volunteers, designed to sustain itself with no human intervention. That, plus free entry and a genuinely dense sense of quiet minutes from Harajuku Station, is what sets it apart.
Q. What does "harmony with nature" mean in Shinto?
A. In Shinto tradition, nature itself — trees, mountains, water — is considered host to kami (deities). Shrine forests like Meiji Shrine's are built on that belief: nature isn't just scenery, it's treated as sacred in its own right, which is part of why this forest was deliberately designed to grow and sustain itself without human interference.
Q. Are there similar "married tree" spots at other shrines?
A. Yes — paired trees standing close together, sometimes called meoto kusunoki or meoto sugi, show up at shrines across Japan, including Hikawa Shrine. Meiji Shrine's pair is among the best known in Tokyo.
What Visitors Are Saying
Visited with a friend and just looking at the two trees leaning together made me feel unexpectedly warm inside.
Came for our anniversary. Learning the "pray at the main hall, then again here" order beforehand made the whole visit feel more intentional.
Tried the backlit shot this guide suggested — light filtering through the branches made for a genuinely striking photo. Now my wallpaper.
Came in autumn and the contrast between the evergreen canopy and the colorful trees nearby was beautiful. A quiet, reflective visit.
Picked up a relationship charm at the shrine office afterward. Felt more meaningful having just stood in front of the trees.
Went at sunrise and barely saw anyone else there. The morning light on the trees was worth the early start.
Trees on both sides of the hall, wasn't sure which pair was Meoto Kusunoki at first. → It's the pair on the left facing the worship hall — look for the branches that merge into one shape.
Visited during New Year's and it was too crowded to get a clean shot. → Weekday mornings are much quieter — worth the earlier start if photos matter to you.
Final Thoughts
Meoto Kusunoki is beloved for good reason — two trees leaning into each other, bound together, standing in for the bond Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken shared. Knowing the correct spot, and the recommended prayer order, makes the moment land a little differently next time you visit. Give yourself a minute in front of them before you move on.
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