Nogi Shrine

Located just north of Roppongi, Nogi Shrine was established in 1923 and is dedicated to General Nogi Maresuke and his wife, Nogi Shizuko. Born in 1849 into a samurai family in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture, Nogi was appointed a major in the Imperial Army at just 21 years old. Having risen through the ranks, he was one of the privileged few sent to Germany in the late 1880s to study modern warfare as Japan expedited its course toward industrialization. He later applied those skills in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). It was during the latter campaign that Nogi began to bear a heavy sense of personal responsibility for the thousands of lives lost during the Siege of Port Arthur, even beseeching Emperor Meiji for permission to commit suicide—a request the Emperor ultimately refused.

However, upon hearing of Emperor Meiji’s passing in 1912, Nogi Maresuke and his wife decided to take their own lives as a final sign of loyalty. He killed himself by seppuku (ritual disembowelment) and she by slitting her throat; they committed this act together in their own home. Following their deaths, it was decided to establish the shrine within the family grounds to honor their memory. While the house itself is only open to the public twice a year, visitors can still peek inside from the wooden balcony and wander through the serene surrounding gardens.

Visitor Information
Address	8-11-27 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (Google Maps)
Opening Hours	6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Price	Free
Website	Visit Website

Access Information
Station	Line	Access Details
Nogizaka Station	Chiyoda Line	Direct access via Exit 1; the shrine entrance is immediately outside the exit.
Roppongi Station	Oedo / Hibiya Lines	Approximately a 10-minute walk heading north toward Akasaka.