If you're hungry after praying at the main hall, Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu, a dining complex right on the shrine grounds, is worth the detour. The standout there is Restaurant "Yoyogi," a Western-style restaurant that makes you feel like you're eating inside the forest itself. This guide covers what the space looks like, the signature beef stew omurice, and everything you need for hours, access, and reservations.
What Is Restaurant "Yoyogi" at Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu?
Restaurant "Yoyogi" is the Western-style restaurant inside Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu, the shrine's dining and event complex. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space with light and greenery, and the menu ranges from beef stew omurice, curry, and pasta to Japanese dishes and desserts. It's also a regular venue for celebration meals — Hatsumiyamairi (a baby's first shrine visit), Okuizome (a baby's first-food ceremony), Shichi-Go-San, and Coming of Age ceremonies all get booked here.
Entrance and Interior
Wooden pillars and huge glass windows define the space, with the greenery outside almost blending into the dining room itself. It's the kind of place you can wander into straight from the shrine without feeling underdressed — open, bright, and low-pressure.
Inside the Restaurant
Round pillars and muted-color chairs give the main seating area a lounge-like feel — a good spot to rest your feet after a lot of walking around the grounds.
There's also a more formal dining section with white tablecloths, used often for Shichi-Go-San and other celebration meals. Wooden beams overhead and the forest visible through the windows keep it feeling calm rather than stiff.
The Menu
I arrived just before 11:00, a little hungry and hoping to beat the crowd, but the entrance still had the "CLOSED" sign up — opening time is 11:00, so build in a little buffer if you're aiming to be first through the door.
The menu leans Western but covers a lot of ground — Japanese dishes, curry, pasta, and dessert are all on offer. Here are some of the highlights.
| Dish | Price (tax incl.) |
|---|---|
| Beef Stew Omurice | ¥1,780 |
| Beef Curry Rice | ¥1,720 |
| Domestic Pork Loin Cutlet Curry Rice | ¥1,900 |
| Japanese-Style Pasta with Shrimp and Scallop | ¥1,720 |
| Soba Set Meal | ¥2,500 |
| Tempura Set Meal | ¥2,200 |
| French Toast with Vanilla Ice Cream | ¥1,100 |
| Matcha Fruit Anmitsu | ¥990 |
| Omiki (Sacred Sake), Warm or Chilled | ¥770 |
For celebration meals after Shichi-Go-San or Hatsumiyamairi, special course menus like Hanagoromo (¥8,250) and Hatsune (¥6,600) are available, but they require booking at least 3 days in advance. Check the official site for the current full menu.
The Signature Dish: Beef Stew Omurice
Soft, fluffy, and genuinely good — that's the honest verdict after actually trying it. A silky omelet sits over slow-simmered beef stew that spills out the moment you cut into it, and it's one of the restaurant's best-known dishes. Eating it with the forest visible through the window is a satisfying way to close out a visit to the shrine.
Hours, Access, and Reservations
| Address | 1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizono-cho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0052 (inside Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu) |
| Hours | 11:00 until gate closing time (last order 30 min. before close), gate closing time varies by month |
| Private rooms | Not available |
| Reservations | Online booking available via TableCheck |
| Phone | 03-3379-9222 (service hours 9:30–18:00) |
The restaurant sits inside the shrine grounds, along the approach from the Harajuku entrance toward the main hall — easy to combine with a visit to the shrine itself. Forest Terrace also has a couple of lighter options nearby if a full sit-down meal isn't what you're after, including a casual noodle and rice bowl counter and two cafés.
📍 View Restaurant "Yoyogi" on the official site
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can you eat at Meiji Shrine?
A. Yes. Forest Terrace Meiji Jingu, on the shrine grounds, has Restaurant "Yoyogi" for a full sit-down meal plus a casual noodle and rice bowl counter and two cafés.
Q. Do I need a reservation?
A. Walk-ins are fine for regular dining, though online booking via TableCheck is available too. Celebration course menus for Shichi-Go-San or Hatsumiyamairi need a reservation at least 3 days ahead.
Q. Are private rooms available?
A. No private rooms. For group bookings, contact the restaurant directly to ask about group arrangements.
Q. What time does it open?
A. 11:00. Closing time follows the shrine's gate closing hours and changes by month, so it's worth checking the official site before you go.
Q. Can I book it for a Shichi-Go-San celebration?
A. Yes. Course menus like Hanagoromo and Hatsune, along with Okuizome and kids' plates, are set up specifically for Shichi-Go-San and Hatsumiyamairi celebrations. Book at least 3 days in advance.
Q. How much is the beef stew omurice?
A. ¥1,780 (tax included). It's the restaurant's best-known dish — a fluffy omelet over slow-cooked beef stew.
Q. Is it rude to leave rice unfinished in Japan?
A. Not really — it's not considered rude the way it might be elsewhere, though finishing your plate is generally appreciated as a sign you enjoyed the meal. At a relaxed restaurant like this one, nobody's going to mind either way.
Q. How much does it cost to enter Meiji Shrine?
A. Entry to the shrine itself is free. Only the Inner Garden (¥500) and the Meiji Jingu Museum (¥1,000) charge admission.
What Visitors Are Saying
Felt like eating inside a forest — genuinely forgot I was still in Tokyo. Perfect way to unwind after praying at the shrine.
The beef stew omurice lived up to the hype — that omelet was unbelievably fluffy. Already planning to order it again next visit.
Booked the Shichi-Go-San course here and the kids' menu made it easy for our daughter too. The whole family left happy.
The view of the greenery through the windows made the meal feel special. Great spot if you want photos along with your food.
Had the matcha fruit anmitsu and it was the perfect way to end a shrine visit. Worth stopping in just for tea and dessert.
Quiet and calm inside, a nice break from the busier parts of the shrine grounds. Easy to just sit and relax for a while.
Got there early and the sign still said "closed." → Opening time is 11:00 sharp — build in some buffer if you're hoping to be first in.
Went during Shichi-Go-San season on a weekend and had to wait a bit. → Weekdays or outside peak season are quieter — an online reservation is worth making if you're unsure.
Final Thoughts: Meiji Shrine's Best Meal With a View
Restaurant "Yoyogi" is Meiji Shrine's go-to spot for a proper meal surrounded by forest — the beef stew omurice alone makes it worth the stop, and it doubles as a genuinely good venue if you're planning a Shichi-Go-San or Hatsumiyamairi celebration. Just keep the 11:00 opening time in mind if you're hoping to be among the first through the door.
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