Come here to pay respects to the man who made Edo (present-day Tokyo) the seat of his government and thus elevated the small village to the most important city in the country. Erected in 1651, it's dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Like Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, it was built by Ieyasu's grandson, Iemitsu, and boasts some of the same richly carved, ornate design favored by the Tokugawas, especially the Chinese-style gate. Remarkably, it survived the civil war of 1868, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and even World War II. The pathway to the shrine is lined with massive stone lanterns, as well as 50 copper lanterns donated by daimyo from all over Japan. The shrine, closed, unfortunately, for renovation until 2014, contains some exquisite art, including murals by a famous Edo artist, Kano Tan-yu, and clothing and samurai armor worn by Ieyasu. At the counter to the left you can buy good-luck charms that will supposedly bring you fortune, happiness, and other earthly desires. On a more somber note, a flame on shrine grounds, lit from flames burning in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, appeals for world peace.
Tokyo› Attraction
Toshogu Shrine
Tokyo, Japan
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Ueno Park, Taito-ku
Hours
Daily 9am–4:30pm Oct–Feb; 9am–5:30pm March–Sept.
Transportation
Station: Ueno (4 min.).
Phone
03/3822-3455
Prices
Free admission to shrine grounds; admission to inner compound ¥500 adults, ¥200 children.
Web site
Toshogu Shrine
Map
Tokyo Japan TokyoNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.