Kunozan Toshogu

History and Divine Virtue

Kunozan Toshogu is the original Toshogu shrine, founded on the very ground where Tokugawa Ieyasu — who died in 1616 — was first buried in accordance with his final instructions. Its deity is Tosho Daigongen, Ieyasu himself deified. The sanctuary, built in the gongen-zukuri style by master carpenter Nakai Masakiyo on the orders of the second shogun Hidetada, stands as a defining work of early Edo architecture and was designated a National Treasure in 2010. The shrine sits atop Mount Kuno overlooking Suruga Bay, reached by a stone stairway of 1,159 steps that winds through seventeen bends from the torii gate at the foot of the mountain; a ropeway from Nihondaira offers an alternative approach. Because it enshrines the man who ended the age of warring states and built an enduring peace, Kunozan Toshogu is worshipped as a shrine of advancement, victory, and rising in the world, drawing a constant stream of visitors facing great contests and turning points. The grounds also include a museum preserving personal effects of Ieyasu from his years as retired shogun in Sunpu.

Visiting Notes

• The 1,159 stone steps are affectionately remembered by the Japanese pun ichi-ichi-go-kurosan ("thank you for all the trouble"). Allow about an hour on foot for the round trip.
• The richly colored sanctuary is a National Treasure — the architectural prototype of the gongen-zukuri style, predating Nikko Toshogu.
• Beyond the sanctuary lies the shinbyo, Ieyasu's mausoleum. The Nihondaira Ropeway allows a visit without climbing the steps.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Tokugawa Ieyasu (Tōshō Daigongen)

Location

静岡県静岡市駿河区根古屋 (Shizuoka)

Access

Nihondaira Ropeway, or 1,159 stone steps from the foot of Mount Kuno

Lineage

Career & Victory

Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.