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Yasukuni Shrine is Japan's most prominent shrine for the war dead. Near Kudanshita Station on the Tozai Subway Line. This is the first giant torii
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Path to shrine
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Statue of Omura Masujiro (1824-1869) 大村益次郎, founder of Japan's modern army. Also pushed for the establishment of Yasukuni Shrine.
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Second torii
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You wash your mouth hands here. Built in 1940 by Japanese living in the US. 大手水舎
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Gate built in 1934. 神門
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Back view of second torii
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Imperial crest on gate door
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Cherry blossom path to shrine
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Noh stage and the cherry tree used as the barometer for Tokyo's cherry blossom blooming condition.
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Yasukuni Shrine, Torii and Haiden hall
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Yasukuni Shrine, Haiden hall. After the Class-A war criminals (such as Hideki Tojo) were enshrined here, the late Emperor Hirohito (Showa) never worshipped here again. 拝殿
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On Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II, Yasukuni Shrine is a busy with worshippers and police. These are police buses.
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Police bus.
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From Kudanshita Station to the first torii, the path is jammed with political activists not even related to the war or shrine.
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Rising Sun flag
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On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.
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On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.
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On Aug. 15 at Yasukuni Shrine, you can see former soldiers and nationalists dressed in military uniform marching in the shrine.
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They march up to the end of the line of worshippers lined up to pray at the shrine. Then they turn around and head back.
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Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.
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Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.
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Worshippers at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.
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Praying at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15.
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Heavyweight judo Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii (石井 慧) was also at Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, 2009. He was very kind and signed autographs, shook hands, and took photos with a lot of people.
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Noh stage
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Yushukan war museum 遊就館
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Entrance to Yushukan war museum 遊就館
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Yushukan war museum 遊就館
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Inside Yushukan war museum. Impressive, but its version of Japanese war history is skewed. No exhibit on the Pearl Harbor attack either. 遊就館
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Inside Yushukan war museum: Photos of the war deceased. Look carefully and you may find photos of Hideki Tojo and co.
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Yushukan war museum 遊就館
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Memorial for military dogs which died.
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Memorial for military horses which died.
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Yushukan war museum 遊就館
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Mother Statue 母の像
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Memorial for sunken naval warships
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Memorial for Justice Radhabinod Pal, an Indian judge during the war crimes tribunal. He was a judge who voted for the innocence of Japan's war criminals.
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Monument for kamikaze pilots who died.
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Memorial for military horses and dogs which died.
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参集殿
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Rest house
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Garden 神池庭園
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Garden 神池庭園
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Entrance to sumo arena.
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Entrance to sumo arena
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Sumo arena. An exhibition sumo tournament is held every April.
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慰霊の泉
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Food stands
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Adding to the dignity of the shrine is a monkey show.
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