Yasukuni Shrine
Cost
Attractions > Tokyo > Shrines Temples > Tokyo Station
About | Access | Hotels & Lodging | Hours & Fees
Look through the Tori to Yasukuni Shrine by Kakidai (CC BY-SA 3.0)
About
Yasuka Shrine in Tokyo (In Japanese; Yasuka Jinja 靖国神社) was extablished in 1869 by the Meiji Emperor to honor the souls of those who died fighting for the Emperor. The shrine is embroiled in controversy as it contains ashes and documented rights of passage of those who honorably died in battle for the Emperor and of those who are considered evil and a disgrace (mostly by other countries) such as many "A Class" war criminals. Its a difficult thing honoring your own countries dead, who died in line with your country, and trying to make amends with what some did in the past. The temple is absolutely despised by some countries and people and absolutely held to the highest standards by some Japanese. Nevertheless, no matter which way you look at it, the temple is of major historical value and power. The shrine currently enshrines over 2,400,000 men, women and children (even some not of Japanese ethnicity) who died for the Emperor. After WW2, the "GHQ" (US led Occupation Authorities), wanted to burn it down but there were two "Fathers" of Christianity that insisted that "honoring their war dead is the right and duty of citizens everywhere" and the shrine remained.
The shrine is a "Must See" if your visiting Tokyo. The shrine itself is a standard affair but the sheer "Power" of the shrine is sure to make a lasting impressions... either negatively or positively. Next to the shrine buildings stands the Yushukan, a museum that commemorates and documents Japan's wars from the perspective of the conservative right wing. The shrine is also "semi-near" the Imperial Palace and can be walked to from the Imperial Palace if your up for a good walk.
Access
Closest Train Station: Ichigaya
3-1-1 Kudankita
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8246 Japan
Tel: 03-3261-8326
About a 10-15 minute walk from Ichigaya, Iidabashi or Kudanshita Stations. It is on the "back side" of the Tokyo Imperial Palace so if your up for a good walk you can walk there after walking through the palace and the East Gardens.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
View a full list of Hotels and Lodging in or nearby Yasukuni Shrine.
Hours & Fees
Hours: The grounds of Shrines and Temples are generally open 27/7, 365 days a year but, many set their own hours. If hours are set, they are generally open from 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. in the morning and close around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting the Official Website before visiting.
Resources
Website: Yasukuni Shrine Homepage
