Yasukuni Shrine – where heroes are remembered

Yasukuni Shrine where heroes are remembered

Among the many shrines that visitors to Japan will encounter the Yasukuni Shrine has an aura of mystique that has kept many visitors coming back to its surroundings. Located in the district of Chiyoda in Tokyo, the shrine was built to honour the spirits of the fallen warriors that gave their lives for the then Emperor of Japan.

The shrine pays homage to over two million soldiers whose memory is forever revered within these hallowed halls. An interesting point to note is that the shrine does not pay homage to only male warriors but also to women whose lives were lost in their service of the Imperial Kingdom. Another unique feature that draws the crowds is the World War II museum that it houses. The museum even houses statues of animals that were lost in the war.

It is a common belief among the locals that once the soul of the dead person is enshrine at the Yasukuni Shrine any acts of wrong doing would be done away with. Locals in Japan consider this act a very religious and sacred act ever since the government of Japan decided to sever its ties from the State of Shinto. This took place in 1945.

With the end of the Second World War the occupying forces led by the United States issued a directive which involved the separation of the state from is religious ties.

This directive in effect put an end to the State Shinto. The local residents and caretakers of the shrine had two options of either converting the temple into an independent religious centre or conforming to a secular government run instituiton. Since the decision to turn the shrine into a religious venue, it has been privately funded ever since. Legend has it that the shrine was the only point at which the Japanese Emperor would bow, in respect of the souls housed there.

The shrine is just one of many ttractions that Tokyo as a busy city in Japan has to offer tourists. The best part of a holiday is to be able to experience the culture of the surrounding area and Tokyo is full of places to just browse through. But if its pampering that one is looking for then one need look no further than checking into a luxury hotel in Tokyo. A popular option among many a traveler is the Shangri- La Hotel Tokyo. Among the Tokyo hotels on offer this option has a variety of exquisite luxury accommodations replete with spa facilities and a large swimming pool.

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