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Shrines Meiji Jingu Shrine Opened in honor of the Emperor and Empress Meiji in 1920, this is Tokyo's most respected Shinto shrine. Emperor Meiji was mainly responsible for opening Japan to the outside world. The two gateways - or torii – are made from the wood of 1,700 year old cypress, making it a most striking entrance way to the grounds. The sheltered pathway is lined with beautiful shrubs and trees. In late May, early June, the Iris Garden blooms spectacularly. About a 10-minute walk from the first torii, the shrine is a fine illustration of the stately and sophisticated Shinto architecture. Every year, more than two million people crowd onto the grounds of Meiji Jingu Shrine to see in the New Year. Yasukuni Shrine Yasukuni Shrine was built in 1869 as a memorial to the Japanese war dead; it is based on the classic Shinto style, with a huge steel torii gate at its entrance. During times of war, soldiers were told that if they died fighting for their country, their spirits would find glory here; even today, it's believed that the spirits of some 2.5 million Japanese war dead are at home here, where they are worshipped as deities. At any time during the week, you're very likely to come across older Japanese people paying their respects to friends and families who might have died in World War II. Every year, on august 15th, the shrine is the focus of public attention when World War II memorials are held here. When the prime minister comes here it usually causes a reaction among Japan's Asian neighbors, who see it as a form of military triumphalism that they find offensive. |