Nogi Shrine

Just a few metres from Exit 1 of Nogizaka Station on the Chiyoda Line, a quiet wooded shrine sits amid the busy Akasaka and Roppongi districts. Nogi Shrine enshrines Army General Nogi Maresuke, known for the Russo-Japanese War, and his wife Shizuko. Once a prefectural-rank shrine, it is now a special shrine of the Association of Shinto Shrines.

Its story begins on 13 September 1912, the day of Emperor Meiji's funeral, when the Nogis ended their lives at their home. In 1913 the Chuo Nogi-kai society enshrined the couple in a small shrine on the grounds the next year, permission to found a shrine came in 1919, and the enshrinement ceremony was held in 1923. The original buildings were destroyed in the May 1945 air raids and rebuilt in 1962 to a design by Oe Hiroshi.

Next door are the former Nogi residence and stable. According to the shrine, the residence, rebuilt in 1902, was designed by Nogi himself from sketches of a French army barracks seen during his studies in Germany. The stable dates from 1893 and is built of bricks imported from Britain. The grounds were donated to Tokyo City and opened as Nogi Park in 1913.

Subsidiary shrines include Shosho Shrine, for Tamaki Bunnoshin and Yoshida Shoin, and Akasaka Oji Inari Shrine. The treasure hall displays the sword used in his death, his will, medals and poems, free of charge. On 13 September the annual festival includes a grave ceremony and a special viewing of treasures.

Allow 30 to 60 minutes. The National Art Center, Tokyo, Suntory Museum of Art and Akasaka Hikawa Shrine are within walking distance.