Shrine · Kudanshita

Yasukuni Shrine 靖国神社

A major Shinto shrine founded in 1869 to commemorate those who died in service of Japan, including convicted war criminals from WWII, a politically contentious site, also known for its huge torii and cherry trees.

About

Yasukuni was established by Emperor Meiji to honour the souls of those who died fighting for the imperial state, and today its register lists about 2.46 million names from conflicts between 1853 and 1945. Since 1978 these have included 14 people convicted as Class-A war criminals by the post-war Tokyo tribunal, which is why visits by Japanese politicians draw protests from China and South Korea and why the shrine is debated within Japan itself. The adjacent Yushukan museum presents a nationalist interpretation of Japan's modern wars that many historians criticise. Architecturally, the approach is imposing: the 25 m steel Daiichi Torii, the bronze statue of Omura Masujiro, and the plain cypress main hall. The grounds hold the official 'sample' cherry tree used to declare Tokyo's sakura season, and the Mitama Matsuri in mid-July fills the approach with 30,000 lanterns.

Highlights

• Daiichi Torii, one of Japan's largest steel torii
• Somei-yoshino 'sample tree' used by the Japan Meteorological Agency to declare Tokyo's bloom
• Mitama Matsuri lantern festival in mid-July
• Yushukan military museum with a Zero fighter and steam locomotive
• Shin-ike garden pond behind the main hall

Tips

• Visit with context: Yushukan exhibits reflect the shrine's own view of history, which differs sharply from mainstream scholarship.
• It's a 5 min walk from Chidorigafuchi's cherry-blossom moat, easy to combine in spring.
• Mid-August (around 15 Aug, the war-end anniversary) brings political rallies and heavy security.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Yushukan MuseumMuseum · 70 m away
• Sotobori ParkPark · 350 m away
• ChidorigafuchiPark · 420 m away
• Tayasumon and Shimizumon GatesCastle & Palace · 510 m away
• Nippon BudokanLandmark & Tower · 580 m away
• Showakan (National Showa Memorial Museum)Museum · 670 m away
• Sushi MizukamiSushi & Seafood · 700 m away
• Tokyo DaijinguShrine · 720 m away