Jakarta Java Kini - Jakarta's City Magazine

This month, the Japanese capital welcomes the world’s tallest tower to its skyline. The famous Tokyo Tower will be overlooked by the Skytree, a 634-metre-tall digital-relay tower. Intrigued? here are eight more reasons to check out this exciting city

Meiji Jingu

This iconic building is steeped in Japanese history, in particular the reign of Emperor Meiji, although the structure of the meiji Jingu (www.meijijingu.or.jp, get off at Harajuku Station), which stands in Yoyogi Park, is mostly now a replica due to the fact that the original version was destroyed by aerial bombing in World War Two. After heading through the giant wooden gate and passing rows of sake barrels donated to the shrine by producers from all over Japan, visitors arrive in front of the main building where they are asked to wash their hands with water from a wooden tank as a symbolic act of self-purification.  At the door to the shrine, you can pray and then make a wish by writing your heart’s desire on a wooden board or a piece of paper. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to watch a traditional marriage ceremony.