Ready for a hike? This beautiful shrine is located on a hill, with over 1000 steps to the top! If you make it up these stairs, you’ll be rewarded with great views and the chance to see the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu!
History
Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first leader of the Tokugawa shogunate, is one of the most important people in Japanese history. He helped put an end to the Warring States Era and brought about a 250 year period of peace. When he died in 1616, he was buried on the top of Mt. Kuno, according to his last wishes. A shrine was built there soon after to honor him, making this the oldest of the Toshogu shrines around the country. Yep, while the shrines at Nikko might be more famous, this one is older.
Why it’s cool
Walking up the 1000 steps from the south side is tiring, but the view of the bay is absolutely gorgeous! You can see the Izu Peninsula across the water and down below, rows and rows of greenhouses for growing strawberries.
Once you get up to the top, there’s a couple of different things you can do — head up to the shrine, check out the museum, or take the ropeway to a viewing platform. The platform has incredible views of Mt. Fuji, but check here for a live-cam; don’t want to get up there and not actually be able to see the mountain, right?
The shrine itself is gorgeous — so many colors!
If you go up behind the main building, you’ll find the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Lots of people were offering incense and praying.
Stamp
More Information
Access
- I parked here and walked a short way to the beginning of the stairs. When I went, the ￥200 was paid on the honor system to one of the small red boxes located nearby. Please pay before you go and explore. There is parking all along this area for people looking to pick strawberries, so you may be able to find parking elsewhere as well.
- If you don’t want to walk up and down all the stairs, you can access the shrine from the Nihondaira Ropeway, the viewing platform I mentioned in the beginning of the post. Click here for the ropeway’s website.
Hours and Admission
- Open every day of the year from 8:30am to 5pm; they close an hour earlier from October to March.
- Admission is ￥500 for the shrine, ￥400 for the museum, ￥800 if you buy a combined ticket.
