Skip to main content

Toshogu Shrine

Tōshō-gū (東照宮) is any Shinto shrine in which Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the last shogunate of Japan, is enshrined with the name Tōshō Daigongen (東照大権現).

Tōshō-gū shrines are found throughout Japan. The most famous Tōshō-gū is located in Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture. It is one of Japan's most popular destinations for tourists.



Ieyasu's son, the second shogun Hidetada, ordered the construction of the Nikkō Tōshō-gū. Later, the third shogun Iemitsu had the shrine greatly enlarged and lavishly decorated.

The Tōshō-gū at Ueno Park in Tokyo is also widely known. Another, at Kunozan in Shizuoka prefecture, rivals Nikkō's for decorative splendor. A Tōshō-gū can also be found at Miyanochō, in Sendai.

During the Edo period, these shrines reached 500 in number. After the Meiji Restoration, many were abandoned, and others united with shrines in the area. Presently, there are about 130 Tōshō-gū.

How to get there
Toshogu and Nikko's other main shrines and temples are located a 30 minute walk or 10 minute bus ride (300 Yen one way, 500 Yen day pass, covered by the Tobu free passes) from Tobu and JR Nikko Stations.

Click here for map

Hours and fee
Hours: April - October 8:00 - 17:00; November - March 8:00-16:00
Cost: ¥1300 (or ¥1,000 for a combination ticket to Rinnoji, Toshogu, and Futarasan); extra fees for a Shinto tour, the treasure house, and the art museum
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shanghai Museum

The Shanghai Museum (Chinese: 上海博物館) is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Hours and Admission Admission Fee: Free Opening Hours: 09:30 to 17:00 History 1952: Museum founded and first open to the public in the former Shanghai Racecourse club house, now at 325 W. Nanjing Road. 1959: Museum moved into the former Zhonghui Building at 16 S. Henan Road, which previously housed insurance companies and bank offices. 1992: Museum allocated a piece of land on People's Square by the Shanghai municipal government, as its new site. Current building Construction of the current building started in August 1993. It was inaugurated in October 12, 1996. It is 29.5 meters high with five floors, covering a total area of 39,200 m². Designed by a local architect, the new museum building is designed in the shape of an ancient, bronze, tripod cooking vessel called a ding. It is said that the inspiration ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Himeji Castle

(姫路城, Himeji-jō?) is a flatland-mountain Japanese castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture and comprising 83 wooden buildings. It is occasionally known as Hakurojō or Shirasagijō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior. It was registered as the first Japanese National Cultural Treasure by UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Japanese National Cultural Treasure in December, 1993. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan's "Three Famous Castles", and is the most visited castle in Japan. How to get there From Himeji Station, the castle can be reached in a 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride along the broad Otemae-dori Street, which leads in a straight way from the station to the castle. Click here for map Hours and Admission Admission: 600 Yen Hours: Daily 9:00 to 16:00 (until 17:00 from June to August). Closed December 29-31. Architecture, defenses, and design Himeji serves as an excellent example of the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kotokuin Temple

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, 高徳院, (Daibutsu in Japanese) is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha in the city of Kamakura, Japan. Seated serenely in the grounds of Kotokuin, a Buddhist temple of the Pure Land sect, the Great Buddha is one of the icons of Japan. At 13.35 meters high and weighing 93 tons, the Daibutsu is the second largest monumental Buddha in Japan (after the one at Todaiji in Nara) and to many, the most impressive. The Diabutsu was cast in 1252 in the Kamakura period and was originally housed inside a temple as in Nara. But a huge tsunami washed away the wooden structure sometime in the late 15th century, and the statue has sat under sun, snow, and stars ever since. The Great Buddha is seated in the lotus position with his hands forming the Dhyani Mudra, the gesture of meditation. With a serene expression and a backdrop of wooded hills, the Daibutsu is a truly spectacular sight. The Daibutsu depicts Amida Buddha, who is the focus of Pure Land Buddhism. Or...
Post a Comment
Read more