Yasukuni Shrine is a large Shinto shrine in Chiyoda, central Tokyo, dedicated to the spirits of those who died fighting for Japan from the late 1860s to the end of the Second World War. It is a place of real importance to many Japanese families and also one of the most politically sensitive sites in East Asia. For visitors, Yasukuni Shrine offers wide tree-lined grounds, one of the city's best-known cherry blossom spots and a museum that presents a very particular view of Japan's wartime history.
Why visit Yasukuni Shrine
The shrine was founded in 1869 to honour those who died in the conflicts surrounding the Meiji Restoration, and took its present name in 1879. Today it lists around two and a half million names. Among them are people convicted as war criminals after the Second World War, which is why visits by Japanese politicians draw protests from China and South Korea, and why the shrine features so often in the news.
Visiting does not mean taking a side. Many people come to understand the debate, to see a major shrine in a quiet part of central Tokyo, or simply for the spring blossoms. Go with an open mind and a respectful manner, as you would at any place of remembrance.
How to get to Yasukuni Shrine by subway
The nearest station is Kudanshita, served by the Tokyo Metro Tozai and Hanzomon lines and the Toei Shinjuku Line. From the station, walk up the slope of Yasukuni-dori; the huge steel first torii gate marks the start of the shrine's long approach, about 5 minutes away.
Ichigaya, served by JR and the Yurakucho, Namboku and Toei Shinjuku lines, is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the shrine's western side, and Iidabashi is a similar distance to the north. Suica and Pasmo cards work on all of these lines.
Opening times and entry
The shrine grounds are free to enter and open daily, with the gates opening early in the morning and closing in the evening; closing times shift with the seasons. The Yushukan museum within the grounds charges an admission fee and keeps its own hours. Check the shrine's official website (yasukuni.or.jp) for current times before you visit.
Etiquette
- Bow lightly when passing through the torii gates, and walk to the side of the central path.
- Rinse your hands at the purification basin before approaching the main hall if you wish.
- Photography of the main hall interior and of people praying is not appropriate. Follow the signs.
- Political gatherings sometimes take place, especially around 15 August. Keep a respectful distance.
Highlights of Yasukuni Shrine
The approach and the gates
The wide approach runs past the giant first torii, a statue of Omura Masujiro, who founded Japan's modern army, and a bronze second torii before reaching the gate in front of the main hall.
Cherry blossoms
The grounds are planted with hundreds of cherry trees, and one of them is the sample tree the Japan Meteorological Agency uses to announce when the cherry blossom season has officially begun in Tokyo. In late March or early April the approach fills with food stalls and picnics.
The Yushukan museum
Japan's oldest war museum displays weapons, uniforms, letters and personal items, along with a locomotive from the Burma railway and a Zero fighter plane. Its narrative of the wars of the twentieth century is widely criticised by historians as one-sided, so treat it as a window into one viewpoint rather than a neutral history.
The garden
Behind the main hall is a small traditional garden with a pond and carp, a calm corner most visitors miss.
Mitama Matsuri
In mid-July the shrine holds a summer festival when thousands of paper lanterns are lit along the approach in the evenings.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Cherry blossom season is the most beautiful and most crowded time. On ordinary days, mornings are peaceful. Allow 45 minutes for the grounds alone, and one and a half to two hours with the Yushukan.
Nearby on the same stop
From Kudanshita, the Chidorigafuchi moat walk, famous for cherry blossoms and rowing boats, is a few minutes away. The Nippon Budokan and Kitanomaru Park are just across the road, and the Imperial Palace East Gardens are a pleasant walk south.
Find more near the station on the Yasukuni Shrine page on Around the Metro, and see the rest of the city in our Tokyo subway guide.