Yushukan

We didn’t know what to expect visiting this museum as it was a last minute decision on our final day in Tokyo. The museum is not near any subway station and requires about a ten minute walk to reach it from the closest one we found in Ichigaya. We had trouble finding it as we came in from the backside with minimal signage. We ended up asking a police officer for help when we knew we were close.
Whatever expectations we may have had were greatly exceeded by this place. The displays and exhibits describing past Japanese conflicts were extremely well done, informative and at times moving. A good number of signs and stories were presented in several languages including English.
Picture taking is only permitted on the first floor lobby but that’s probably a good thing as it would interfere with the experience for everyone. They provide several visitation routes based upon how much time you have. We ended up spending 90 minutes there but could have stayed longer if not pressed for time. The end of the tour has pictures honoring hundreds to thousands of their war heroes along with mementos and letters. Getting a different perspective of World War II was enlightening for us.