Yushukan Museum — Attraction in Tokyo

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...

The Yushukan Museum, located within the grounds of the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, is Japan’s oldest military and war museum. Established in 1882, it serves as a historical repository, offering insight into Japan's military history and the experiences of those who served in various conflicts. The museum provides a comprehensive view of Japan’s military past, including its role in major conflicts from the Meiji Restoration through World War II. History and Purpose

The Yushukan Museum was founded to commemorate and honor the spirits of Japanese soldiers who lost their lives in wars. It aims to educate visitors about Japan's military history and the sacrifices made by its soldiers. The museum's exhibits are designed to convey the historical narrative from a Japanese perspective, highlighting the nation's military developments and the experiences of its servicemen. Major Exhibits

Meiji Restoration and Early Conflicts: The museum features extensive exhibits on the Meiji Restoration (1868) and the subsequent modernization of Japan’s military. Artifacts from this period include weapons, uniforms, and documents that illustrate Japan's transition from a feudal society to a modern state with a professional military.

Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars: Detailed displays cover the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). These exhibits include dioramas, maps, and personal items from soldiers, providing insights into the strategies and outcomes of these conflicts.

World War II: One of the most extensive sections of the Yushukan Museum is dedicated to World War II. The exhibits cover various aspects of the war, including Japan’s involvement in the Pacific Theater. Artifacts such as military equipment, aircraft, and personal letters offer a poignant glimpse into the experiences of Japanese soldiers and civilians during the war.

Kamikaze Pilots: A notable exhibit is dedicated to the kamikaze pilots who carried out suicide missions during World War II. This section includes personal effects, letters, and photographs of the pilots, highlighting their motivations and the cultural context of their sacrifices.

Post-War Japan and Reconstruction: The museum also addresses the aftermath of World War II and Japan’s post-war reconstruction. Exhibits in this section focus on the country's recovery, the impact of the war on Japanese society, and the steps taken towards rebuilding and modernization.

Zero Fighter Plane: One of the most iconic exhibits is the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a famed Japanese fighter aircraft used during World War II. The restored plane is a centerpiece, attracting aviation enthusiasts and history buffs. Yamato Battleship Model: A detailed scale model of the Yamato, one of the largest battleships ever built, provides insights into naval warfare and Japan’s maritime strategy. Letters and Diaries: Personal letters, diaries, and memoirs of soldiers offer a deeply personal view of the human experiences behind the historical events.

The Yushukan Museum offers various educational programs and resources for visitors, including guided tours, lectures, and special exhibitions. These programs are designed to provide a deeper understanding of Japan's military history and the broader historical context of the exhibits.

The Yushukan Museum offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of Japan's military history. While it provides valuable insights into the experiences and sacrifices of Japanese soldiers, it also invites reflection and discussion on the complexities of historical memory and the different perspectives on wartime events. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student, or a casual visitor, the Yushukan Museum provides a significant opportunity to engage with...

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...