I had always wanted to visit Yasukuni Shrine, purely because it is one of those controversial and historically significant sites. I thought that if I was in Tokyo in autumn, I could take a look. I didn’t expect to find such beautiful ginkgo trees there, so I ended up going there specifically for that.
The square in front of Yasukuni Shrine is lined with ginkgo trees on both sides. If you’re not in a rush to see the golden leaves, you can first take a stroll inside the shrine grounds.Yasukuni Shrine was livelier than I expected, but today’s main attraction wasn’t the shrine itself. I won’t delve too much into its history and stories. After a casual walk around, I headed back to see the ginkgo trees I had been looking forward to.
After autumn fades, Tokyo transitions from fiery reds to golden yellows. The best time to view ginkgo trees is usually from mid-November to mid-December each year.Many places have ginkgo-lined avenues. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great that day, and the photos lacked some light, but it was the only time I saw ginkgo trees during my trip, which left me with a slight sense of regret.
Walking along the central path of the ginkgo trees, amid shades of green and yellow — the place was simply too beautiful, so beautiful that it was intoxicating, and so beautiful that I couldn’t even walk fast. People stopped in the middle of the road to enjoy being surrounded by such beauty, trying to capture everything in their photos and etch it into their memories. Many, like me, walked back and forth along the same path over and over again.
Petals fall in their season. Although I visited while the ginkgo trees were still at their peak, the ground was already covered in golden leaves. It seems that enjoying flowers does require a bit of luck. In terms of the overall scene, Yasukuni Shrine may not be the best place in Tokyo to see ginkgo trees, but it still has a lot of presence and atmosphere. Especially under the ginkgo trees with their yellow leaves covering the ground, the place seems to have a certain magic that keeps you lingering and unwilling to leave.
Yeah, I actually rolled around on the grass here for quite a while, spending a carefree yet completely satisfying afternoon with Little Mouse and the newly joined Faceless One.
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Finally, here’s a ginkgo leaf. Hope to be back here again this time next year.
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Yasukuni Shrine
Address: 3-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 06:00–17:00
Official Website: www.yasukuni.or.jp
Transportation: Exit 1 or 2 of Kudanshita Station on the Tozai Line, Hanzomon Line, or Toei Shinjuku Line
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