Yasukuni Shrine
Chiyoda, Tokyo
1 Mar to 31 Oct
- Daily
- 6:00 to 18:00
Rest of the year
- Daily
- 6:00 to 17:00
Hours can change for ceremonies and events.
Source: yasukuni.or.jp, checked 11 Oct 2026.
Yasukuni Shrine is a vast 1869 shrine at the top of Kudan hill, entered through one of the biggest torii gates in Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency's benchmark cherry tree grows here, and when it opens five blossoms, Tokyo's sakura season is officially declared.
More photos of Yasukuni Shrine
Insider tip
Walk the full approach from Kudanshita rather than slipping in from a side entrance. The avenue is built so the scale lands slowly. Chidorigafuchi is next door.
What the guides say about Yasukuni Shrine
Mitama Matsuri is a summer festival at Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, held for the souls of the dead during Tokyo's July Obon season. For four evenings the long approach and the inner grounds are lined with more than 30,000 lanterns, stacked in glowing walls several tiers high, with hand-painted paper lanterns hung along the way. It's one of the most photogenic summer evenings in the city, and it's free.
What's on at Yasukuni Shrine
Upcoming events at Yasukuni Shrine and within a ten-minute walk, from the weekly Tokyo events calendar.
Yasukuni Shrine Antique Market
靖国神社骨董市
Station Kudanshita (Tozai, Hanzomon, Toei Shinjuku Lines), 5 min walk
A modest Sunday antique market along the tree-lined outer approach to Yasukuni Shrine, with 10 to 20 dealers selling pottery, old tools, and militaria from sunrise to sunset. Small enough to browse in half an hour on the way to the shrine or nearby Chidorigafuchi.
Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0 Yozakura-mode (night cherry blossoms) at Yasukuni Shrine
靖國神社 期間限定「夜桜詣」
Time 18:00 to 20:00
For a few evenings at cherry blossom time Yasukuni opens its Shinmon gate from 18:00 to 20:00 so visitors can look through at the inner precinct's cherry trees at night, with food trucks in the outer garden.
Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0 Hono Ozumo (sumo offering) at Yasukuni Shrine
靖國神社 奉納大相撲
Time Gates about 8:30, dohyo rite 9:00, top-division ring entry about 14:00, ends about 15:00
The Japan Sumo Association holds a day of bouts at Yasukuni's outdoor sumo ring every April, with the yokozuna ring entry, comic shokkiri and sumo jinku songs.
Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0 Mitama Matsuri
みたままつり
Time Lanterns lit 18:00 to 21:30 Station Kudanshita (Tozai, Hanzomon, Toei Shinjuku Lines), 5 min walk
Obon festival of remembrance held on the same four days each July, with some 30,000 paper lanterns stacked in glowing walls along the shrine's long approach. Evenings bring mikoshi, Nebuta floats, and traditional dance; the lanterns are lit from dusk to 9:30pm.
Laika ac from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 Chiyoda Sakura Festival (Chidorigafuchi Light-up)
千代田のさくらまつり（千鳥ヶ淵緑道ライトアップ）
Station Kudanshita (Tozai, Hanzomon, Toei Shinjuku Lines), 5 min walk
The moat path northwest of the Imperial Palace is lined with about 260 cherry trees, illuminated in the evenings during peak bloom. Rowboats on the moat give the classic view of petals drifting on the water; expect a long queue for the boats at peak.
Kimon Berlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 Smaller local events nearby
Chrysanthemum offerings at Yasukuni Shrine Garden
26 Oct to 8 Nov · Yasukuni Shrine, tent in front of the Noh stage, Kudanshita
Members of three chrysanthemum societies show their early-blooming chrysanthemums in a tent in front of Yasukuni's Noh stage, free to view.
Free · Shrine gate hours (6:00 to 17:00 in November) · Map · Source: Yasukuni Shrine (靖國神社) · 靖國神社 奉納菊花展
Hosei University Ichigaya campus festival (Jishu Hosei-sai) Festival
31 Oct to 3 Nov · Hosei University, Ichigaya campus, Fujimi
Hosei University's student-run campus festival by the outer moat at Ichigaya, with food stalls, club stages and exhibits, open to visitors.
Free entry, stalls paid · Daytime · Map · Source: Hosei University · 法政大学 市ケ谷キャンパス大学祭（自主法政祭 市ケ谷地区）
Nearby
Good to know
- What is the address of Yasukuni Shrine?
- 3-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese: 東京都千代田区九段北3-1-1).
- What are the opening hours of Yasukuni Shrine?
- 1 Mar to 31 Oct: Daily 6:00 to 18:00. Rest of the year: Daily 6:00 to 17:00. Hours can change for ceremonies and events.
- How do I get to Yasukuni Shrine?
- The nearest station is Kudanshita (Tokyo Metro Tozai). Yasukuni Shrine is in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
- How much does Yasukuni Shrine cost?
- Nothing. Yasukuni Shrine is free to visit.
- How long do you need at Yasukuni Shrine?
- Plan for 45 min.
- When is the best time to visit Yasukuni Shrine?
- Late March.
Stay near Yasukuni Shrine
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