Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, a National Treasure

Unchanged for four centuries, a beautiful and decadent shrine
Note:There are stone steps at this shrine and there are no slope for wheelchair users,
If you or one of your member is not at ease walking,
it will be difficult to visit this shrine.
In this case, we recommend you to stay at Nihondaira.
(and not ride the ropeway to the shrine).

This beautiful shrine is for giving worship to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period.
There are many Toshogu shrines in Japan, but the very first one was built here at Kunozan. 
The main shrine building includes the Haiden (or front shrine), and Honden (inner sanctuary), which are separated by the ishi-no-ma (stone room), where priests conduct various ceremonies.

The main shrine was built 400 years ago, and designated a National Treasure in 2010.
The shrine complex is historically invaluable and has remained in excellent condition from the time of its founding. 

Tokugawa Ieyasu laid the foundation for the Edo period, a time of peace that lasted nearly 300 years. He passed away at the age of 75, an astounding longevity for his time.
That is why Kunozan Toshogu has come to be a symbol of health, safety and recovery from illness.

The shrine is located on the summit of Kunozan, a mountain 270 meters above sea level famous for its magnificent scenery. 
You can get to the shrine in just five minutes by using the gondola from the top of Nihondaira.

Alternatively, you can climb the 1,159-step stone staircase leading up from the Kuno coastline on the opposite side. These stairs were the shrine’s original gateway.

The mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu

 

The majority of these facts are not yet common knowledge. They have been mentioned only in

 

speeches made by the Chief Priest, Hidekuni Ochiai, who was helped by the British Museum in 2013 in

 

his research into the old Spanish clock once owned by Ieyasu, given to him by the Spanish King in the

 

early 17th century. The clock is one of the most important treasures in the Kunozan Tosho-gu Museum.

 

 

A ceremony

You can climb the 1,159-step stone staircase leading up from the Kuno coastline.

Cruise ship passengers at Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine website(English)

You can get more information from our blog posts below. 
Please enjoy our blog posts!
Kunozan Toshogu Shrine written by our internship student, 

Every year, around May, the shrine opens at night. You can visit at the light of bamboo illumination. It is mysterious and beautiful ! 

Please have a look on our blog post  about this special event :
Kunozan Toshogu with bamboo light and Nihondaira written by our French staff Saki.
In French version : Blog post Written in French by Saki

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