The Toshogu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Ieyasu and two other of Japan's most influential historical personalities, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Minamoto Yoritomo.

The lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen Shinto and Buddhist buildings set in a beautiful forest. Initially a relatively simple mausoleum, Toshogu was enlarged into the spectacular complex seen today by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu during the first half of the 17th century.

Countless wood carvings and large amounts of gold leaf were used to decorate the buildings in a way not seen elsewhere in Japan, where simplicity has been traditionally stressed in shrine architecture.

Unless you intend to visit only the Toshogu, it is recommended to purchase a combination ticket, which also includes admission to Rinnoji, Taiyuinbyo and Futarasan Shrine. But note that combination tickets do not cover access to the nemuri neko carving and Ieyasu's tomb.

Construction Notice: Several of the shrine's many buildings are being renovated in stages from 2007 to 2019. Until spring 2013, the haiden/honden hall is being renovated, but visitors can still enter the building, and the general impact on a visit is rather small. From April 2013, the Yomeimon Gate is scheduled for renovation works that are expected to take six years.

Shrines
Shinto
Temples
Buddhism
Edo Period

Toshogu Shrine
Taiyuinbyo
Rinnoji Temple
Futarasan Shrine
Shinkyo Bridge
Tamozawa Imperial Villa
Botanical Garden
Kanmangafuchi Abyss

Lake Chuzenji
Kegon Waterfall
Ryuzu Waterfall
Senjogahara Marshland
Yumoto Onsen