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- Destinations
- Asia
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine
To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial
Yasukuni Shrine, built to commemorate the Japanese war dead and now
regarded as home to the souls of about two and a half million who
perished in conflict, mostly in the Pacific War of World War II.
Soldiers fought in the knowledge that their spirits would find rest
and honour at Yasukuni in the after-life. The shrine has caused
controversy for various political reasons over the years since it
was built in 1869 in honour of supporters of the emperor, killed in
the run up to the Meiji Restoration. More recently, with regard to
the country's constitution that requires the separation of State
and religion, cabinet ministers have been criticised for attending
anniversaries of Japan's defeat in World War II held at the shrine.
The shrine is confined behind a huge steel torii gate, opening onto
a long avenue lined with gingko and cherry trees. The Worship Hall
itself is a simple Shinto style building. North of the shrine is
the Yushukan Museum, containing war memorabilia, some of which is
disturbing and thought-provoking such as the human torpedo and
kamikaze suicide attack plane.
Information & Facts
Address
3-1-1 Kadunkita, Chiyoda-ku
Admission
Museum: ¥800, concessions available.
Language
Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people
will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or
understand what is said to them.
Money
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100
sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and
stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers
cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency
exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to
3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best
taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards;
only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some
major stores.
Opening Times
Shrine open 24 hours daily. Museum open daily 9am-5pm
(November to February); 9am-5:30pm (March to
October).
Time