Yūshūkan The is a Japanese military and war museum located within Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda , Tokyo . As a museum maintained by the shrine , which is dedicated to the souls of soldiers who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan , the museum contains various artifacts and documents concerning Japanese war casualties and military activity from the start of the Meiji Restoration to the end of the Pacific War . The museum was established in 1882 , and describes itself as the first and oldest war and military museum in Japan . The museum has been accused of containing revisionism in its accounts of Japan ' s actions in World War II , as well as glorifying Japan ' s aggressive militaristic past . See " Controversies surrounding Yasukuni Shrine " for the full discussion of these controversies . History . The museum was initially established in 1882 to preserve and display Meiji Restoration - era artifacts of the Imperial Japanese Army . Following the First Sino - Japanese War and Russo - Japanese War , the Meiji Emperor issued his 192nd order in 1910 , which ordered the preservation of military artifacts . The building was expanded when the number of documents and artifacts increased after World War I , but was demolished during the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake . The structure was rebuilt by Itō Chūta , reopening in 1932 . During World War II , looted weaponry was also displayed on loan from the Ministry of War , but the museum itself was closed down during the postwar period . Yasukuni Shrine lost funding from the government under the Shinto Directive issued by the Occupation Authorities , and the shrine put the museum building up for rent in order to obtain funds . In November , 1947 , the Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Company signed a rent agreement with the shrine and began using it as its Kudankita office . The company left the building in 1980 , and it reopened as the Yūshūkan museum on July 13 , 1985 . The building has undergone several renovations since then , and the outdoor exhibitions were moved indoors and re - exhibited on July 13 , 2002 . General information . The museum is open from 9 : 00 am to 5 : 30 pm from April to September , but closes at 5 : 00 pm from October to March . The museum is also open from 9 : 00 am to 9 : 00 pm during the regional Mitama Matsuri festival that takes place from July 13 – 16 . Camera use is only permitted in the first floor entrance hall area . The admission fee is 800 yen for adults , 500 yen for college and high school students , and 300 yen for elementary school and junior - high school students . Exhibitions . The museum ' s exhibitions are centered around the shrine ' s dedication to the spirits of deceased Japanese soldiers . The museum also contains weaponry used by the Imperial Japanese Army , as well as Allied documents and exhibitions related to the modern Japan Self - Defense Forces and United States Forces in Japan . A cenotaph of a war horse is also located within the museum grounds . First floor . The first floor entrance hall can be entered free of admission , and contains an A6M Zero fighter aircraft and a Class C56 steam locomotive number C56 31 used in Thailand during the post - war period . A Type 89 15 cm Cannon and Type 96 15 cm Howitzer are also displayed in this area . The large exhibit room on the first floor contains a Yokosuka D4Y bomber aircraft and Type 97 Chi - Ha recovered from Yap Island , along with a Kaiten - type torpedo and replicas of an Ohka Model 11 aircraft and Mutsu battleship . Mementos of deceased Japanese soldiers are also shown in this room , including a uniform worn by a paratrooper , and various letters left behind by deceased soldiers . Photographs and portraits of the " Spirits of Yasukuni Shrine " ( deceased Japanese soldiers ) are shown at the end of the hallway . Second floor . The entrance hall escalator leads to the second floor exhibit room . Various war - related materials are exhibited in chronological order , including different types of swords , armor , guns , and a golden flag wielded by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Boshin War . The war flag of the 321st Imperial Japanese Army division displayed in this room is the only one of its kind that has been recovered fully intact . The floor also contains a small cinema theater , which plays various documentaries related to the shrine and modern - day Japan . Stores . The museum ' s gift shop sells regional souvenirs in addition to various books and documents concerning Yasukuni Shrine . Toy army flags and other military - related toys can also be purchased here , and English - language pamphlets are available for foreign visitors . The museum also houses a cafe where the items on the menu are created using ingredients and recipes resembling those actually used on Japanese Navy ships .