Shizuoka | Take a cable car across the mountain to visit the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu - Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

The legend of Tokugawa Ieyasu's "Fuji-no-michi" (the way to immortality) spans the shrines of Nikko's Toshogu Shrine and Mount Fuji. His final resting place, Kunoyama Toshogu Shrine in Shizuoka, is shrouded in even more fascinating legends.

The most convenient way to reach Kunoyama Toshogu Shrine is to take a bus from Shizuoka Station to Nihondaira, then transfer to a cable car, which takes you across the mountain. A more strenuous alternative is to climb the 1,159 stone steps built by Tokugawa Hidetada for the shrine's pilgrimage. One theory is that the number 1,159 is a pun on the painstaking effort of each step.

Speaking of shrine architecture, Tokugawa Ieyasu, once a powerful figure, built Kunoyama Toshogu Shrine, like the Nikko Shrine, using the Gongen-zukuri style. This embodies the finest architectural techniques of the time and is designated a National Treasure. Toshogu shrines throughout Japan were later built using this staircase as a model. The ornately carved beams, lacquered in gold, vermilion, and black, showcase the craftsmanship while also offering a subtle touch of ingenuity. The family crest, painted upside down on the eaves, symbolizes a work to be continued. Whether this is a feng shui consideration or a symbol of continuing the family's glory, it holds profound significance.

The approach from the temple gate to the shrine is simple and solemn. The stone lanterns lining its sides were donated by the military commanders who served Ieyasu. The shrine, in accordance with Ieyasu's will, features a 5.5-meter-tall, eight-meter-circumference stone pagoda, facing west.

Standing 159 cm tall, he achieved great success during the Warring States Period. The Edo Shogunate he founded lasted for 260 years, making him a pivotal figure in Japanese history. A life-size sign depicting Ieyasu and his handprints are also displayed, allowing visitors to experience history as if they were touching time and space.

📍Address: 390 Negoya, Suruga Ward, Shizuoka, 422-8011 Japan
🚗Take a bus from Shizuoka Station to Nihondaira, then transfer to the Nihondaira Ropeway.
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Post by 旅行中的野馬 | Aug 12, 2025