Honestly, I had mixed feelings before going in, since everyone knows this place is very controversial. But the moment I stepped onto the approach, I instantly grew quiet. The entire stone-paved path is incredibly wide, and the two rows of large trees completely block out the traffic noise from the main road outside. All I could hear as I walked was my own footsteps, and the cool breeze felt really nice.
I wandered all the way to the main shrine, where white curtains were hanging and a sign nearby said photography wasn't allowed. Everyone quietly followed the rules, tossed in their money, and bowed. I also made sure to move softly and didn't dare fool around at all.
Later, I went to see the cherry blossom benchmark tree used by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Whenever the Japanese news talks about whether the cherry blossoms have bloomed in Tokyo, this is the star of the show. Even though it was completely green and had no blossoms at the time, it was still pretty cool to see the actual tree in person.
The Shinchi Teien garden in the back was great, and there was hardly anyone there. I just sat on a bench by the pond, zoned out, and drank some water while watching the incredibly fat koi swim around. My feet were really sore from walking, so relaxing in the breeze here felt amazing.
