Yushukan Museum

A great collection of Japanese War history spanning many hundreds of years. The cost is about 1000 yes per adult. All of the information is in Japanese and English, very helpful. Some amazing and well preserved displays. Well worth a visit if you have time.

An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon if the weather is off. Tells the history of the battles and wars the led to the creation of Japan as a nation right up to ww2 and the dropping of the atomic bombs and the soviet invasion of the kuril Islands. Fascinating to understand the mindset of the Japanese government prior to December 7. The early days of the Japanese people is explained and documented. Highly recommend a visit if only to learn about the history of Japan and how it found it's place in the modern world. An easy 3hrs can be spent here, and entry was just 1000 yen.

On 1 August 2025, we decided to explore one of the city’s most fascinating and often debated cultural landmarks — the Yūshūkan Museum. As two visitors from Malaysia, stepping into this museum meant stepping into a world where history, remembrance and national pride all converge. The museum first opened its doors in 1882, making it Japan’s oldest military museum. Over the years it has been rebuilt and expanded, most notably after World War II and again in 2002, when it underwent significant modernization. Its stated mission is to honor those who fought for Japan from the Meiji Restoration through World War II. Yet what makes Yūshūkan unique is not just its impressive collection of artifacts, but also its perspective. Exhibits highlight the courage and sacrifice of Japanese soldiers while often avoiding detailed discussion of the war’s darker consequences. The ground floor immediately sets the tone with a dramatic centerpiece: the Mitsubishi Zero fighter aircraft. To see this legendary plane up close was extraordinary. Its sleek frame, once the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy, reminded us why it was both feared and admired during the Pacific War. Moving further in, we encountered the C56 steam locomotive that once ran on the infamous Thai–Burma Railway. For us Malaysians, this exhibit had a powerful resonance. Known as the “Death Railway,” the line was built through forced labor and claimed thousands of lives. The museum presents the locomotive as part of engineering history, but standing before it, we could not help but reflect on the immense suffering that lay behind its operation. Outside in the covered portico, the focus shifts to artillery. The Model 89 15cm cannon and the Model 96 howitzer stood as imposing examples of Japan’s wartime firepower. These weapons were used in the defense of Okinawa and other late-war battles. The Grand Exhibition Hall on the same floor expanded the scope further. Tanks, naval guns, torpedoes and experimental weapons such as the Ohka suicide aircraft and the Shin’yō motor boat filled the space. Upstairs, the emphasis shifted from machines to people. The second floor opened with galleries tracing Japan’s rise as a modern power through the Meiji and Russo-Japanese Wars. Photographs, medals, and campaign maps charted how Japan emerged onto the global stage. The transition into the Pacific War exhibits introduced glass cases filled with rifles, swords, uniforms and regimental flags. Among these, the swords stood out most vividly, beautifully crafted and symbolic of how samurai traditions carried into modern military life. The most poignant section, however, was the gallery of farewell letters and portraits. Many young soldiers wrote final notes to their families before leaving for battle. Even without fully understanding the Japanese language, the emotion was unmistakable. These letters humanized the war in a way that the tanks and planes downstairs could not. As Malaysians, our reflections were layered. We admired the craftsmanship, the engineering brilliance, and the preservation of history on display. Yet we also remembered how these same weapons and soldiers once marched through Southeast Asia, leaving a legacy that is still remembered in our part of the world. Yūshūkan’s narrative emphasizes heroism and sacrifice, often minimizing the costs of war, but this contrast actually made our visit richer. It reminded us how history is never one story, but many, depending on where you stand. Tickets cost JPY1,000 for adults. From the grandeur of the Zero fighter in the lobby to the intimate poignancy of soldiers’ letters upstairs, the museum offered a powerful journey through Japan’s modern military history. It was not just about weapons or battles; it was about memory, identity, and how a nation chooses to honor its past. For us, it was an enriching experience — one that deepened our understanding of Japan, while reminding us of the shared and often painful history of our region.

Visited this museum in Tokyo since it is the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan. The museum presents a historical string of events from the years of the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Meiji restoration to the First-Sino Japanese war, to the Russo-Japanese War to the First World War and ultimately the Second World War. The events are presented and portrayed from a very Japan centric/ militaristic centric perspective where Japan is portrayed as the victims in every scenario and being forcefully dragged into each of the wars. The museum presents a version of history that is contradictory to the version that is widely acknowledged by the rest of the world. Japan is always the victim in this museum, while the rest of the world is at fault, there is also little to no mention of Japanese brutality and death tolls that it displayed in China, Korea and the rest of South East Asia. While the museum shows the trains used in the Thai-Burma death railway, it failed to mentioned how POWs were used to build it, the brutality that they were treated by the Japanese, and their death tolls. Japan portrayed its victory over Russia as 臥薪嘗膽 or enduring hardships, while it was clear that Japan was in conflict with Tsarist Russia over influence in the far east: with Korea and China. It can be said that this conflict extended into the Japanese and Soviet border incursions in Manchuria. Japan praised its “orderly conduct” amongst the eight nation alliance during the boxer rebellion, while it was clear that Japanese troops were also implicated in the systematic looting and destruction of property in Qing dynasty Beijing. In the museum, Japan is portrayed as being dragged into the conflict with China, with the military engaging with Chinese forces over Manchuria. We understand that the Japanese military used a supposed sabotage operation and started its war in China, and in fact, Japan did not see China as its equal. Japan is also seen as an inspiration for Asian independence movements following its victory in the Russo-Japanese war. Japan’s victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese shattered the image of the “invincible whites”, and it showered to the people living in the South East Asian colonies that the western powers would not protect them in the event of an invasion, and these two factors led to the acceleration of the independence movements. If this museum presents a version of history that the Japanese government wishes to portray, that I fear of the rise of militarism in Japan once again. May the truth prevail, and may peace be everlasting.

Very recommended to visit . If you like history. You can take pictures everywhere. But not the pictures of the fallen soldiers there is a room with thousands of there pictures. It’s sad because at the end of the day there was a mother that cried for her son.

Yūshūkan Museum – A Deep and Reflective Historical Experience I spent about 4 hours at the Yūshūkan Museum in Chiyoda City, and it was a truly meaningful and thought-provoking visit. Located next to the Yasukuni Shrine, this museum offers a unique perspective on Japan’s military history. One of the most striking features is the display of real wartime artifacts — including an actual Zero fighter plane, tanks, weapons, and uniforms used during past wars. You can also read the last letters written by Japanese soldiers, which are emotional and deeply personal, giving visitors a sense of the sacrifices made during wartime. The museum also provides a wide-ranging overview of Japan’s military history, from ancient times to the modern era. There are also exhibits about the Japanese Imperial family, reflecting their involvement and connection with the country's military and cultural legacy. There's a restaurant on-site where you can enjoy lunch, although the prices are a little on the higher side. Still, it's convenient if you're planning to spend a few hours inside. If you're interested in history, culture, and understanding different perspectives, this museum is well worth a visit. It’s a place for reflection, learning, and respecting history — not only about Japan but also about the broader impacts of war. 🌟 Highly recommended for those who want a deeper historical experience beyond the usual tourist attractions.

You can see a ZERO Fighter model 52 which is one of the few remaining body in exist. It has been kept in beautiful condition, even in its detail. It was great to have a look at it to feel a passion of engineer who worked hard to realize the world best fighter in the past.

Location and surrounding area is very calm and nice. The museum shows part of the recent Japanese war history. Well displayed, interesting items, lot of soulders pictures which reminds how bad war is and always will be. The only improvement I may suggest iS more text translations in English.