Tokyo - Yasukuni Shrine

The Yasukuni Shrine is in the Marunouchi District northwest of Mizugami Park. It was built in the Shinto style in 1869 and is dedicated to Japan's war dead. The entry to the outer precinct is through two immense Torii. At the south entrance stands a 39ft (12m) high granite Torii, and at the entry to the inner precinct there is a bronze Torii 74ft (22m) high. Both of these were put up in 1933.

The bronze statue on the left hand side of the entry represents Shinagawa Yajiro (1843-1900), a leading political figure of the Meiji period.

The grounds of the Temple are beautiful with gingko trees and ornamental cherries. This gave rise to the usual farewell of soldier departing for the war: "We'll meet again under the cherries on