The prayer for peace from 400 years ago
Shrine precinct guide
Shrine precinct guide
Omotesando Ishidan (Stone stairway to shrine)
There are 1159 stone steps from the stone torii gate at the bottom of Kuno hill. At the top step is the inscription “いちいちご苦労さん” (ichi ichi gokuro sama),which is a a play on words, since 1159 steps is "ichi ichi go ku" in Japanese, and "ichi ichi go kurosan" means "Step by step, good job". Before the construction of the Nihondaira Ropeway (aerial tramway) in 1957, the stone stairway was the only access to the shrine.
Ichi-no-mon (Gate)
The Ichi-no-mon gate is located 909 steps up from the bottom of the hill. From here there is a spectacular view of the ocean.
Moneisho (Gatekeeper’s house)
During the Edo period (1603-1867) access to the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was restricted. At that time a gatekeeper was stationed here to control who entered the shrine.
Roumon (Two Story Gate)
This gorgeous romon is said to be the model for the Yomeimon at Nikko Toshogu and it is designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government. The gold characters written on the blue base of the tablet at the top of the gate read “Tosho Daigongen”. One year after his death, Ieyasu was granted the deity name “Tosho Daigongen” by the 108th emperor Go-Mizu-no-o.
Shinkyu (Sacred stable)
This building is a stable ("umaya”) and is designated as an Important Cultural Property. It is said that Ieyasu’s favourite horse Shiroishi was stabled here. A famous craftman, Hidari Shingoro, created a sculpture bearing a close resemblance to the horse. He placed the sculpture in the stable.The scuplture had eyes made of ‘gyaman’ glass, a type of glass which was very valuable at that time in Japan.
Koro (Drum Tower)
This tower was originally a bell tower. At the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism in the Meiji period (1868-1912), the bell was replaced with a taiko drum because bells were closely associated with Buddhist temples. In 1873 a taiko drum that was previously at Edo Castle was given to the shrine by Katsunao Kojima, a former retainer of the shogun. This tower is also an Important Cultural Property.
Go-ju-no-to-ato (Former site of the Five Storied Pagoda)
A five-story pagoda which had been dedicated by the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651), stood here until the Meiji period. In maps created during the Edo period, the 30 metre tower was often described as the symbol of Kunozan Toshogu and was a masterpiece of the craftsmanship and building technology of its time. The pagoda was dismantled in 1873 as part of the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism, and only the cornerstones of the pagoda remain.
Kaguraden (Kagura Hall)
Although ‘kagura’ is a performance of sacred music and dance, this Kagura Hall was not used for sacred music and dance. The building housed the framed poems of 36 Heian period (794-1185) famous poets. This building is an Important Cultural Property.
Shinko (Depository for sacred objects)
Gifts offered to the gods were stored in this structure. The building is modeled after the famous Shosoin Imperial Repository at Todaiji Temple in Nara which dates back to the 8th century. The architectural style of this building is called ‘Azekura-Zukuri', essentially a storehouse made of logs with a raised floor.
Hie Shrine
The enshrined deity at this shrine is Oyamakuinomikoto. Originally this shrine was used as a Yakushido to enshrine a Buddhist statue called Yakushinyoraizo, the buddha of medicine. However, the Buddhist statue was moved to Taisho Temple in December 1870 following the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism.
Shaden (Main Shrine Building)
This building is where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined. After Ieyasu's death, his successor shogun Hidetada had this shrine built to enshrine the first Tokugawa shogun at Kunozan. The shrine was built in only a year and seven months by master craftsman Nakai Masakiyo. The shrine is built in a style referred to as 権現造 (Gongen-Zukuri) where the inner sanctuary and worship hall are connected with an Ishi-no-ma (a room with a stone floor). The shrine was built with using the best craftsmanship and building technology available at that time in Japan. The form of the buildings at Kunozan Toshogu served as a model for other Toshogu shrines around Japan, including the well known Nikko Toshogu shrine in Tochigi Prefecture.
BByousho Sando (Path leading to Mausoleum)
This path runs from the gate to the mausoleum. The stone lanterns on either side of the path were dedicated by the military commanders who served under Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Shinbyo (The mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu)
This structure contains the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Initially a small wooden style shrine, it was replaced by this stone mausoleumt by the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651). The stone tower stands 5.5 meters tall with a circumference of 8 metres. Following Ieyasu’s own instructions, the tower faces west.
