Tosho-gu Sanctuary

In front of you stands a Shinto shrine, known as Ueno Tōshō-gū. Know that Tōshō was the posthumous name given to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the very first shogun of Tokugawa shogunate—the ruling dynasty that governed Japan from 1603 to 1868. So, what does all of this mean? A shogunate was a form of Japanese military government at the time, where the three major dynasties are Kamakura, Ashikaga, and finally, Tokugawa. Tokugawa is the name of the powerful family that ruled for over two centuries, during what’s known as the Edo period. As for the shogun? He was the one in charge, just like the president in your country. This shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, a founding shogun of the dynasty known for unifying the country. He fought battles and invaded lands throughout the 16th century, bringing other dynasties to the ground. He accomplished this alongside two other important leaders: Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Together, they are remembered as Japan’s three great unifiers. Once he was proclaimed shogun, he established the Tokugawa shogunate and made Edo—now Tokyo—the capital. This is how the Edo era began, a time that continued until 1868. Now, back to the shrine. Built in 1627, it was remodeled in 1651 into the gongen-zukuri architectural style. This layout connects the haiden, that is the main worship hall, and the honden, also known as the principal sanctuary, under a same roof, forming an H-shape when viewed from above. A truly remarkable shrine of the 17th century, it has only undergone a few restorations, which is quite surprising given the many centuries of war and natural disaster it has gone through. As you walk down the stone-and-copper lantern-lined path, you’ll finally meet the famous shrine, covered in black and gold—a testimony that it resisted time. While entry is prohibited, you can still enjoy the exterior view of this beautiful enbodiment of Shinto tradition, meant not only to be admired but  also felt.