Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

On 4th January, hubby and I visited Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka prefecture. The shrine is located near the top of Mount Kuno in Suruga Ward of the city. We climbed 1159 stone steps up the walkway from the foot of the mountain to the top in about an hour. As I wrote in the previous post, the climb up the 216-meter-high steep mountain was a bit tiring but we were rewarded with magnificent views during the climb.

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the first Shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate. The shrine is located at the top of Mount Kuno and was the original burial place of Ieyasu. The mountain was the site of a Buddhist temple named Kunoji, which dated to at least the early Nara period. In 1568, a feudal warlord named Takeda Shingen moved the temple to a nearby place that is now called Shimizu-ku, and built a castle on Mount Kuno. In 1582, Takeda clan was defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu and Suruga province along with Kuno Castle came under the control of Tokugawa clan. Ieyasu formed Edo Government in 1603 and then retired to a nearby Sunpu Castle in 1607. However, he considered Kuno Castle to be important and so he continued to maintain the castle. He wished to be buried at the top of Mount Kuno, and therefore as per his wishes he was buried at the mountaintop after his death in 1616. In 1617, Tokugawa Hidetada, second Shogun and son of Ieyasu, built Kunozan Toshogu Shrine as a mausoleum of Ieyasu at the site of Kuno Castle. At the first anniversary of Ieyasu’s death, his grave was relocated to Nikko in Shimotsuke province (present Tochigi prefecture) where a shrine with the same name as Toshogu was built and Ieyasu was deified by the third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. However a portion of his deified spirit is said to still reside on Mount Kuno. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine was originally built in the mixed style of Buddhism and Shintoism.  After the Meiji Government overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate, and the subsequent separation of the two religions, some of the Buddhist structures were removed or remodeled. The primary enshrined kami (god) at this shrine is Tosho-Daigongen which is the deified spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu. From Meiji period, two secondary kami, the spirits of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga are also enshrined here. Presently the sacred grounds of the shrine complex consist of thirteen gorgeous structures and all of them are original. All these structures are bright red buildings decorated with gold accents and colorful carvings and paintings. The buildings named Honden, Haiden, and Ishinoma are designated as national treasures. All other buildings are designated as important cultural properties. This shrine is the oldest of all the Toshogu shrines.

As I wrote in the previous post, hubby and I climbed up the walkway from the base of Mount Kuno and took about an hour to reach near the top of the mountain where the shrine is located. Adjacent to the souvenir shops and food stalls at the mountaintop, there is a ticket counter from where we bought tickets worth 500 Yen per person to enter the sacred grounds of the shrine. From the ticket booth area we could see Romon Gate of the shrine. Romon Gate is gorgeous and delimits the shrine premises. We climbed several stone steps and reached near the gate which is an elaborate wooden red colored structure decorated with gold accents and colorful carvings and paintings. It is said that the name of the shrine written on the beautiful framed plaque hanging from the second floor of this gate building was carved by Emperor Go-mizunoo himself. This gate is designated as an important cultural property. On reaching the gate, we saw that two wooden statues of Zuijin warrior guardians armed with bows and arrows are located on each side of the gate to protect the entrance and the grounds of this shrine from evil spirits. Zuijin were high-ranking court guardians to the nobles in Heian period. The statue on the right side of the gate is called Udaijin and the one on the left side is called Sadaijin. On entering inside the gate we saw a pair of golden and green colored guardian statues flanking the backside of the gate. The statue on the right side of the gate (orientation from inside the sacred grounds) is called Ungyo Komainu and the one on the left side is called Agyo Shishi. We loved seeing the colorful gate and all the beautiful statues.

I am standing next to the ticket counter and about to start climbing up the stone steps leading to Romon Gate

I am posing after climbing only a few steps of the walkway

Hubby and Romon Gate in the background

I am climbing further up the steps leading to the gate

I am standing near the gate

Udaijin guardian statue to the right side of the gate

Sadaijin guardian statue to the left side of the gate

Romon Gate as viewed from inside the sacred grounds of the shrine

Ungyo Komainu statue to the right side of the gate (orientation from inside)

Agyo Shishi statue to the left side of the gate

We walked along the walkway for several meters and saw Temizuya to our left. Temizuya is a hand washing basin with a roof supported by four pillars. We washed our hands with water at the basin and purified ourselves. Then we climbed a few steps along the walkway and reached a stone Torii Gate.

Walkway and the stone Torii Gate

Temizuya basin located on the left side of the photo

After crossing the Torii Gate, we walked along the walkway and saw a beautiful red building named Korou to our right side. There are colorful carvings and gold accents on the ceiling and walls of this building. The building was originally a Buddhist structure that was used as a bell tower. But during the Meiji period, it was remodeled as a Shinto structure and now holds Taiko drums. Korou is designated as an important cultural property.

Walkway leading to the shrine and Korou partly visible on the right side of the photo

Korou

We climbed a few more steps along the walkway and then saw another red building named Kaguraden to our right side. Although the name Kaguraden suggests that it is a building to hold Shinto theatrical dance named Kagura, no such performance takes place here. Presently people hang Ema wooden plaques inside this building. Kaguraden is designated as an important cultural property.

Climbing a few more steps along the walkway

Kaguraden located to our right side

Hubby is standing on the walkway next to copper lanterns and appreciating Kaguraden (not seen). The next gate of the shrine is seen up the walkway.

Next we climbed the last few stone steps along the walkway. While climbing these steps, we turned around to view and appreciate the shrine grounds where we saw many visitors who had come to offer Hatsumode prayers for the New Year celebrations. At the end of the walkway, we reached a gorgeous red colored gate with a magnificent roof. This gate named Karamon Gate is the entrance to the shrine hall named Haiden. The gate has arched Chinese style roof with exquisite colorful wood carvings, gold accents, and painted decorations. The gate has painted carvings of dragons, peacocks, mythical beasts, flowers, leaves, and many other interesting subjects. This colorful styled ornate gate is designated as an important cultural property. We took several photos of the gate from various positions and angles.

Shrine grounds along with Kaguraden and Korou buildings on the left side of the photo

Karamon Gate

Ornate roof and ceiling of Karamon Gate

Colorful painted carvings and gold accents on the ceiling of the gate

Colorful carvings and gold accents on the doors and lintel of the gate

More colorful carvings on the lintel of the gate

After passing through Karamon Gate, we reached a small praying area which is a roofed structure with no walls. This praying area is located right in front of the worship hall named Haiden Hall, and we could clearly see the ornate altar of the hall. I offered some coins into the offertory box, clapped my hands twice, and prayed for the well being of my family as well as friends. Hubby compiled a video of me praying.

Roofed praying area and beyond it is the altar of Haiden Hall

People praying

I almost reached the front of the praying area and am ready to offer prayers. Huge offertory boxes are seen on the right side of the photo.

A compiled video of me praying

Next we saw the main building named Shaden which is the focal point of the shrine. Shaden consists of three buildings named Honden Main Hall, Ishinoma Interconnecting Hall, and Haiden Worship Hall. Shaden is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, and was built by his son Tokugawa Hidetada in 1617. This main building is a fantastic wooden structure built by a famous carpenter named Nakai Masakiyo in just 19 months. The architectural design of this kind of building is known as Gongen-zukuri. At that time, this was the most advanced architectural technology. In fact, the Gongen-zukuri style of constructing the Shaden was established at this shrine, and therefore this shrine is the oldest of all the Toshogu shrines. Later the same architectural style was adopted by other Toshogu shrines including the one at Nikko City. The Shaden building shows the flamboyant colorful style of the late Momoyama period, with extravagant wood carvings, gold leaf, and painted decorations over black lacquer. The primary enshrined god in Honden Main Hall is Tosho-Daigongen which is the deified spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu. In addition, two secondary gods, the spirits of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga are also enshrined. Honden, Haiden, and Ishinoma have been designated as national treasures in 2010. We loved viewing the Shaden building which is designed so beautifully and the details of the decorations are astounding. We took several photos of the building from various positions and angles.

Roofs of Honden Main Hall (right side) and Haiden Worship Hall (left side) as viewed from the east side of the sacred grounds of the shrine

Haiden Hall as viewed from the southeast

Beautiful colored carvings on the ceiling of Haiden Hall

Colored carvings on the ceiling of Haiden Hall

Haiden Hall and the praying area in front of the hall as viewed from the south

Front of Haiden Hall as viewed from the praying area

Stunning colorful carvings and gold accents on the ceiling and the front side of Haiden Hall

Enlarged view of the carvings and paintings on the ceiling and the front side of Haiden Hall

Haiden Hall as viewed from the southwest

Honden Main Hall as viewed from the west

I am standing next to the extravagantly decorated Honden Hall

Paintings of lion and nature on the western side wall of Honden Hall

Afterwards we walked around in the sacred premises in front of the Shaden building and enjoyed viewing the building some more. Then we went to Omikuji fortune stall located adjacent to Shaden building, and paid 200 Yen to draw the fortune. Omikuji are sacred random fortunes written on strips of paper. Both our strips of paper showed ‘normal luck and fortune’. Later hubby tied the paper strips to a string on the frame set up at the shrine ground.

Hubby is standing in the Shaden area of the shrine. The gate (indicated by red arrow) seen behind him is the side gate which can also be used to enter inside the Shaden area.

Hubby reading Omikuji fortune written on a strip of paper

Hubby tying the strip of paper to a string

Next we left the Shaden building area using the side gate located on the east side of the sacred premises, and saw a subsidiary red colored shrine named Hie Jinja right in front of us. Hie Jinja is dedicated to Oyamakui-no-mikoto. Earlier a statue of Yakushi Nyorai was enshrined here but during the Meiji period the statue was moved to a nearby temple named Daishoji Temple. Hie Jinja is designated as an Important cultural property.

I am standing near the side gate through which we left the Shaden building area and entered the Hie Jinja area

Hie Jinja

Ornate roof and walls of Hie Jinja as viewed from the west from inside the Shaden building area

We walked down a few stone steps, and saw another red colored building named Shinko located to the southeast of Hie Jinja. Shinko building is constructed in Azekura-zukuri architectural style in the same way as Shosoin building located in Nara City. Shinko is a repository where products and artifacts dedicated to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine are stored. Shinko is designated an important cultural property.

Shinko

Later we went back inside the Shaden building sacred area and again viewed and appreciated various buildings of the premises. Afterwards we visited the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu located further up Mount Kuno. I will write about the Mausoleum in the next post.

Climbing Mount Kuno

During New Year holidays, hubby and I visited his relatives in Ichinomiya City of Aichi prefecture. This year we went to Ichinomiya by our car. I have written earlier in the blog post of January that on 3rd January we had visited hubby’s cousins and relatives in Okazaki City of Aichi prefecture. That night we drove up to Shizuoka City and stayed at a hotel overnight. On 4th January, we visited Kunozan Toshogu Shrine located in the city.

 

 

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Suruga Ward of Shizuoka City in Shizuoka prefecture. It is the original burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu of Tokugawa Shogunate, and is the oldest of the Toshogu shrines in Japan. The shrine is located near the top of Mount Kuno, which is 216 meters high steep peak on Suruga Bay.

 

 

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is located about 30 kilometers northeast of the hotel we stayed in Shizuoka City, and it took us about an hour of car ride to reach the base of Mount Kuno. The drive was fun and we enjoyed the passing views. It was a very clear sunny day and we got a spectacular view of Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji

 

 

After reaching the base of Mount Kuno, we parked our car at a parking lot located nearby. From the parking lot, we could see the shrine located at the top of the small steep mountain. We could also see the stairs of a winding walkway on the mountain. We noticed that there were many visitors to the shrine that day. This is because it is a traditional Japanese custom to visit a temple or a shrine during the New Year. This first trip to a shrine or temple is called hatsumode. Such New Year festivities are held at practically every shrine and temple across the country.

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine located at the top of Mount Kuno as viewed from the car parking lot

 

 Winding walkway and a gate of the shrine located on Mount Kuno

 

 

It is possible to reach Kunozan Toshogu Shrine located near the top of Mount Kuno by two ways. A walkway from the foot of Mount Kuno is the main approach to the shrine. This main approach is accessed from the south and involves a considerable climb up the mountain. There are 1159 stone steps zigzagging up the mountainside, which allows for impressive views of Suruga Bay along the way while climbing. Another way to reach the shrine is by using a ropeway from the north from Nihondaira plateau. It was a clear sunny day and we decided to walk up to the shrine.

 

 

From the car parking area, we walked up to a nearby stone Torii Gate located at the foot of Mount Kuno. This Torii Gate marks the beginning of the ascent to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. As we started climbing up the walkway, we turned around and saw the Suruga Bay in the far background.

I am standing in front of the stone Torii Gate

 

Hubby standing in front of the Torii Gate

 

Steps that mark the beginning of the climb up the walkway

 

Suruga Bay

 

 

As we climbed up the steps of the walkway, we saw that many trees surrounding the walkway were refreshingly green although it was mid winter. There are many resting places with benches along the walkway. After climbing for about 10 minutes, we took rest for a while at one of such resting place. From this place, we saw that the Suruga Bay and the town had became more visible, and realized that we had climbed up quite a lot of steps.

I am posing while climbing up the steps of the walkway

 

Suruga Bay and the town as viewed from the resting place

 

 

After taking rest for a short while, we again continued our climb up the steps. While climbing, we looked up and could so clearly see the zigzag walkway further up the mountain. The walkway has 1159 steps spanning 760 meters with 17 switchbacks. I also noticed several wonderfully shaped deciduous trees with many branches and most of its leaves shed. These trees stood out so distinctly amongst the other trees having fresh green leaves. We continued our climb and felt good about skipping many resting places. But after another 15 minutes of climbing up the steps of the walkway, I was really tired and stopped to take rest for the second time. From this resting place we got a wonderful view of the Suruga Bay.

Zigzag walkway and a tree with many branches and no leaves

 

Yet another wonderfully shaped tree with many branches and almost all leaves shed

 

Climbing up the steps of the walkway

 

Wonderful view of Suruga Bay from the place where we took rest for the second time

 

 

We continued our climb up the steps and saw a few jovial school children having fun and enjoying their school trip to the shrine. Hubby compiled a video of our climb up the steps of the walkway. We felt very nice to walk on such a sunny day and enjoyed the surrounding beauty. But as we got higher up the mountain, the climb got difficult and I became tired very easily after climbing only several steps. So after climbing only for 5 minutes, we took rest for the third time. From this height of the resting place, we got fantastic views of the Suruga Bay and the town. Along the coastline we saw a lot of artificial breakwaters to protect the town from typhoons or rough waves. We also saw many rows and rows of large white vinyl buildings which are greenhouses for growing strawberries. Suruga town and the surrounding area of Mount Kuno are famous for growing delicious strawberries.

I am climbing up the steps and two school children enjoying their trip

 

Climbing further up the steps

 

A compiled video of our climb up the steps of the walkway on Mount Kuno

 

I am standing at the resting place where we took rest for the third time

 

Fantastic view of Suruga Bay and many rows of greenhouses for growing strawberries

 

Two breakwaters along the coastline and many rows of greenhouses

 

 

We continued our climb at a rather slow pace for another 10 minutes, and took rest for the fourth time. From this resting place we could touch the branches of one of the wonderfully shaped deciduous trees. The well shaped tree was very aesthetically pleasing and we spent about 10 minutes appreciating the tree.

An aesthetically pleasing tree

 

Hubby appreciating the tree

 

Suruga Bay and breakwaters as seen from our fourth resting place

 

 

Afterwards we again started climbing up the steps. After climbing for only another couple of minutes, we reached near the top of the walkway where the first gate named Ichinomon Gate of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine is located. From the Torii Gate located at the foot of Mount Kuno, we had climbed 909 steps to reach Ichinomon Gate. From this place, we got a breathtaking view of Suruga Bay.

Several steps of the walkway leading to Ichinomon Gate

 

Panoramic view of Suruga Bay, breakwaters, and rows of greenhouses as viewed from Ichinomon Gate area

 

 

Ichinomon Gate is a modest wooden structure through which we entered the grounds of the shrine. However, visitors using the ropeway do not pass through this gate as the ropeway takes them a bit higher up the mountain. After entering the grounds of the shrine, we realized that Ichinomon Gate leads to more steps along the walkway. Inside the shrine grounds, right in front of Ichinomon Gate, a small wooden gatekeeper station is located.

I am standing in front of Ichinomon Gate

 

Ichinomon Gate as viewed from inside the shrine grounds

 

Hubby standing inside the shrine grounds in front of Ichinomon Gate

 

Gatekeeper station

 

 

After climbing up the stone steps of the walkway inside the shrine grounds for about 5 minutes, we saw the museum building of the shrine to our right side. The museum exhibits some of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s personal belongings and many shrine treasures. We did not visit the museum. After climbing the steps for another couple of minutes, we reached the place where the ropeway station is located. Around this place there are many shops that sell souvenirs and food items. After passing the shops, we climbed a few more steps and saw the second gate named Roumon Gate of the shrine. This gate is an elaborate wooden structure which delimits the shrine.

I am climbing up the steps of the walkway inside the shrine grounds

 

Stone walls of the museum

 

I am standing near the ropeway station

 

Tokugawa crest on a rain catcher located near the shops

 

Hubby standing on the walkway with Roumon Gate in the background

 

 

By the time we reached Roumon Gate, we had already climbed almost 1100 steps of the walkway and only few tens of steps had yet to be climbed. Although the climb up the walkway was a bit difficult and sometimes I struggled to keep on climbing but it was worth it. We were rewarded with magnificent views during the climb and we took our time to enjoy the views. In addition, the views from the top of the mountain were also amazing. According to a Shinto legend, climbing up the stone steps leading to the shrine is a purifying ritual. So we felt purified and were ready to enter inside Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. I will write about the shrine in the next post.