Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Here is a classic airplane for all you history buff out there. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero, which when it was rolled into production was one of the most advanced fighters in the world and certainly in the Far East theater of World War II. I won’t bore you too much about the legendary status of this airplane (you can read much more on Wikipedia for example), but it’s rather cool to see it in real life. This one is exhibited at the Yasukuni Shrine Museum, and it’s conveniently located in the lobby of the museum so even travelers on a budget can afford to see this one! There is another Zero on display in Tokyo that I know, the one in the science museum in Ueno. That Zero can be viewed from above and has a rather more interesting history, it was apparently plucked from ocean floor and restored.

I took these photos on New Year’s eve while visiting Yasukuni Shrine. I was lucky to get in right before the opening so there were very few people (mostly staff) which made it possible to get these photos. I’m also posting some close ups I took last year, and a few photos of the statue dedicated to the pilots who fought World War II in these and other planes of the Japanese Navy and Army. As much as I hate wars, it still looks pretty darn cool. A must see if you have time to spare in Tokyo!