Yasukuni Shrine

This is a gorgeous, lively, maddeningly nationalistic, must-see Imperial shrine.

If you follow Japanese news at all, every year you’ll hear about the Yasukuni Shrine. It’s the place where the souls of all soldiers who fought for Japan since the samurai era are enshrined. It always makes the news if the prime minister decides to appear and make an offering on Japan’s version of Memorial Day, because certain souls enshrined there are considered WWII war criminals by other countries.

YasukuniZero — There is a fascinating WWII museum on the shrine grounds. Although it tells the story of WWII from a distinctly nationalistic perspective, it has an excellent collection of war memorabilia, including a fully restored Zero.

But that’s not all there is to this grand shrine! It turns out that sumo started out as the Shinto practice of “wrestling with the gods,” so the Yasukuni Shrine still hosts a FREE amateur & professional tournament once a year in the outdoor sumo amphitheatre.

Age group sumo tournament at the Yasukuni Shrine outdoor sumo amphitheater, on the first Friday in April. More info here. During cherry blossom season and the annual Mitama Festival in July, food stands are set up on the promenade leading up to the main gate, so revelers can have a cold beer and eat a whole fish. (The head is SUPPOSEDLY the best part.) Festival food is Japan is fresh and delicious and safe – it’s your big chance to try some octopus balls or squid on a stick! During the three-day spring and fall festivals, traditional dance, music, juggling, taiko drumming, and more are performed on the outdoor Noh stage. Entertainment is all free, and there’s lots of good, cheap festival food to try.