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Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社 or 靖國神社, Yasukuni Jinja, lit. Peaceful Country Shrine) is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Japan, from the Boshin War of 1868–1869, to the two Sino-Japanese Wars, 1894–1895 and 1937–1945 respectively, and the First Indochina War of 1946–1954, including war criminals. The shrine's purpose has been expanded over the years to include those who died in the wars involving Japan spanning from the entire Meiji and Taishō periods, and the earlier part of the Shōwa period.
The shrine lists the names, origins, birthdates, and places of death of 2,466,532 men, women, children, and various pet animals. Among those are 1,068 convicted war criminals, 14 of whom are A-Class (convicted of having been involved in the planning, preparation, initiation, or waging of the war). This has led to many controversies surrounding the shrine. Another memorial at the Honden (main hall) building commemorates anyone who died on behalf of Japan, and so includes Koreans and Taiwanese who served Japan at the time. In addition, the Chinreisha ("Spirit Pacifying Shrine") building is a shrine built to inter the souls of all the people who died during WWII, regardless of their nationality. It is located directly south of the Yasukuni Honden.
As beautiful as the shrine is, my only concern is to see so many nationalists praying here. I am a patriot that loves my country, like any other patriots in the world, but I am absolutely not a nationalist. And seeing so much of them are heartbreaking for me as I don't share the same ideology, but if you shade that away, the architecture is truly beautiful.
Hisanori TamuraJan 5, 2018
A complicated monument to Japan’s war-dead from 1867-1951, including over 2.4 million names in the Book of Souls, which is worth a look on its own! Intriguingly, there are also animals that are thusly enshrined as “victims of war”. I could not find any cool statues thereof but I presume they are somewhere to be found. While, yes, approximately 1,000 individuals were sanctioned as war criminals by the post-World War II International Military Tribunal for the Far East, the monument has immense historical value highlighting the leaders of Imperial Japan. 完全一个尽量抗日的地方！
William ThompsonFeb 12, 2018
History can’t be distorted. Even you are Japanese, if someone break into your house, killed your child, raped your wife, and finally get killed by police, are you willing to see their name put on national shrine and get worshipped? That’s totally a joke. They can never be forgiven. If Japanese can’t realize the sins their previous government made before, and didn’t take it seriously and apologize, they can never be respected
Li PeterMar 4, 2018
From a tourist's perspective, it is an underrated shrine. However, tourists should understand the history of it as this people who started the WWII was enshrined here. History shall not be forgotten and distorted but the place is definitely worth going as it is very decent shrine.
Matthew TseJan 4, 2018
It was a great place to go see, plenty of history to learn some a tad sugar coated but other wise great. Very Foreigner friendly plenty of things in English and other languages. I was very pleased with the cafe and gift shops there and I'd say it's a must see if you're in Tokyo. Also don't forget to visit the shrine in the back.
Robert ReidOct 5, 2017
As beautiful as the shrine is, my only concern is to see so many nationalists praying here. I am a patriot that loves my country, like any other patriots in the world, but I am absolutely not a nationalist. And seeing so much of them are heartbreaking for me as I don't share the same ideology, but if you shade that away, the architecture is truly beautiful.
Hisanori TamuraJan 5, 2018
A complicated monument to Japan’s war-dead from 1867-1951, including over 2.4 million names in the Book of Souls, which is worth a look on its own! Intriguingly, there are also animals that are thusly enshrined as “victims of war”. I could not find any cool statues thereof but I presume they are somewhere to be found. While, yes, approximately 1,000 individuals were sanctioned as war criminals by the post-World War II International Military Tribunal for the Far East, the monument has immense historical value highlighting the leaders of Imperial Japan. 完全一个尽量抗日的地方！
William ThompsonFeb 12, 2018
History can’t be distorted. Even you are Japanese, if someone break into your house, killed your child, raped your wife, and finally get killed by police, are you willing to see their name put on national shrine and get worshipped? That’s totally a joke. They can never be forgiven. If Japanese can’t realize the sins their previous government made before, and didn’t take it seriously and apologize, they can never be respected
Li PeterMar 4, 2018
From a tourist's perspective, it is an underrated shrine. However, tourists should understand the history of it as this people who started the WWII was enshrined here. History shall not be forgotten and distorted but the place is definitely worth going as it is very decent shrine.
Matthew TseJan 4, 2018
It was a great place to go see, plenty of history to learn some a tad sugar coated but other wise great. Very Foreigner friendly plenty of things in English and other languages. I was very pleased with the cafe and gift shops there and I'd say it's a must see if you're in Tokyo. Also don't forget to visit the shrine in the back.
Robert ReidOct 5, 2017
As beautiful as the shrine is, my only concern is to see so many nationalists praying here. I am a patriot that loves my country, like any other patriots in the world, but I am absolutely not a nationalist. And seeing so much of them are heartbreaking for me as I don't share the same ideology, but if you shade that away, the architecture is truly beautiful.
Hisanori TamuraJan 5, 2018
A complicated monument to Japan’s war-dead from 1867-1951, including over 2.4 million names in the Book of Souls, which is worth a look on its own! Intriguingly, there are also animals that are thusly enshrined as “victims of war”. I could not find any cool statues thereof but I presume they are somewhere to be found. While, yes, approximately 1,000 individuals were sanctioned as war criminals by the post-World War II International Military Tribunal for the Far East, the monument has immense historical value highlighting the leaders of Imperial Japan. 完全一个尽量抗日的地方！
William ThompsonFeb 12, 2018
History can’t be distorted. Even you are Japanese, if someone break into your house, killed your child, raped your wife, and finally get killed by police, are you willing to see their name put on national shrine and get worshipped? That’s totally a joke. They can never be forgiven. If Japanese can’t realize the sins their previous government made before, and didn’t take it seriously and apologize, they can never be respected
Li PeterMar 4, 2018
From a tourist's perspective, it is an underrated shrine. However, tourists should understand the history of it as this people who started the WWII was enshrined here. History shall not be forgotten and distorted but the place is definitely worth going as it is very decent shrine.
Matthew TseJan 4, 2018
It was a great place to go see, plenty of history to learn some a tad sugar coated but other wise great. Very Foreigner friendly plenty of things in English and other languages. I was very pleased with the cafe and gift shops there and I'd say it's a must see if you're in Tokyo. Also don't forget to visit the shrine in the back.
Robert ReidOct 5, 2017
| Monday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
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