Hōraisan Tōshō-gū

Hōraisan Tōshō-gū is a shrine featuring a main hall, offering space, middle gate, ablution font, and walls decorated with carved wood panels. The buildings are arranged in a sequence that guides visitors toward the inner sacred area.

This shrine was founded in 1651 under the orders of Shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu and holds a sword once used by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Its creation was part of a broader effort to link the ruling family's authority to religious traditions.

Local lords donated stone lanterns to this shrine, showing how they connected their power with spiritual life. These gifts remain visible reminders of the bond between political leaders and religious spaces.

The grounds are easy to navigate since the buildings follow a clear order that visitors naturally follow as they walk through. Coming in spring offers the chance to experience the annual celebration that honors the site's legacy.

This shrine went through ten major restoration campaigns during the Tokugawa era, showing how seriously the ruling family took its care. These repeated repairs across generations reveal a rare level of long-term commitment to the building's upkeep.

Location: Shinshiro

Inception: October 31, 1651

Website: https://horaisantoshogu.com

GPS coordinates: 34.97883,137.58747

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:53