The Yasukuni Shrine (Shrine of Peace for the Nation) was dedicated in 1879 to the 2.5million Japanese soldiers and civilians who have fallen in war since the Meiji Restoration. This is a sobering visit for some and a controversial one for others because until the end of WWII Shinto was the official state religion. This meant that all ashes of the war dead were brought here, regardless of family wishes. Especially unsettling for some, the ashes of nine Class-A war criminals are also enshrined here. This is a hotbed for any member of politics to visit. Nearby, is the Yushukan, a museum dedicated to the fallen. This museum may be especially hard for some as it puts human faces to the dead and features romanticized paintings of soldiers at war. The inner area of the shrine is normally off-limits but the outer area is open to viewing.