Yushukan (Yasukuni Shrine War Memorial Museum)

Yushukan is one of Japan's oldest military museums, located within the grounds of Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Since its opening in 1882 (Meiji 15), it has been known as a facility that houses and displays primary source materials on Japan's war history and samurai culture, from the late Edo period through the modern era. The name Yushukan derives from a passage in the Chinese classic Xunzi, meaning 'to place oneself beside people of excellence,' reflecting the museum's significance as a place to learn the spirit of the warrior.

Yushukan occupies a special position in the field of swords. The gallery 'History of Japanese Martial Arts' displays the swords, armor and martial equipment that Yasukuni Shrine has collected since its founding, arranged chronologically from ancient times through the Edo period. The gallery 'Spirit of the Warrior' displays field marshal's swords (gensui-tō). The gallery 'Meiji Restoration' lets visitors see items associated with shishi who have been enshrined as deities, including Yoshida Shōin and Sakamoto Ryōma. Besides swords, the museum holds a rich collection of armor, sword fittings and military swords (guntō), making it a rare facility where visitors can trace, through the changes in swords and military equipment, the transition from the samurai age to the age of modern military personnel.

The permanent exhibition spans 22 rooms and systematically displays materials related to the Boshin War, the Satsuma Rebellion, the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War and the Pacific War. It is also known for large exhibits such as the Zero fighter (Reisen) and steam locomotives. For sword enthusiasts, however, its core is the collection of swords and armor associated with warriors. Many exhibits are linked to historical figures by name, which offers a rare viewing experience.

Located about a 10-minute walk from Kudanshita Station (Tōzai Line, Hanzōmon Line, Toei Shinjuku Line) in central Tokyo, it is also well suited to sightseeing combined with a visit to the Imperial Palace and the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art.