“Kunozan Toshogu Shrine designated as a National Treasure”.
This article created a sensational headline among people in Japan and of foreign countries last year. From today, I’ll introduce some sightseeing spots absolutely hot and cool this season in Shizuoka City. It is around Mt. Kuno !

From Shizuoka Station, you have 2 choices to get to Mt. Kuno. One is to take the bus for Nihondaira and ride on the gondola, Nihondaira Ropeway, to it. The other is one for Kuno-yamashita, where is at the very foot of Mt. Kuno. I took the latter. On the way, you can see the beautiful Kuno Coast and Suruga Bay, where you can overlook as far as Izu Peninsula on a fine day. As for Kunozan Toshogu Shrine, because I’ve introduced it in my second diary of this blog website, I dare not explain details like historical matters.＾＾；

Now, you get off the bus and will find a shrine gate as in the picture above within one minute walk from the bus stop. This is the beginning gate of Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. Are you ready mentally and physically to walk up ?

1159 steps up to the shrine is by no means accessible. Can you see the flag and posted notice on the gate, by the way ? These all says “Conglatulations ! Kunozan Toshogu Shrine finally designated as a National Treasure” ! See ? ＾＾
Soon after I began to walk up, I found a very old temple and a good plum garden. The air was cool but refreshing. It took me about 30 minutes to reach the toshogu shrine. On my way, I saw beautiful Suruga Bay including Izu Peninsula ! Walking through the wooden gate, it is just around the corner ! ＾＾

Although it was only a common weekday, I saw many tourists in the shrine. It is always good to be in the sacred air. At the entrance gate, you can ask for a copy of English description about Kunozan Toshogu and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of Edo Era. I walked up the stairs to the Honden main hall. The gorgeous look of the shrine tells us how much he was awed.

Originally, in Mt. Kuno used to be a huge temple until it burnt out by a tremendous fire. Afterwards, Takeda Shingen, a feudal warlord took up this mountain as a castle, Kuno Castle until Takeda clan was destroyed by Tokugawa family. And when Tokugawa Ieyasu passed away, the castle was completely demolished, to build a tomb for him. One year later, his body was carried to Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Indeed, Mt. Kuno has a lot of histories !

Now, get a bit hungry ?
I’m on my way to Strawberry Picking down Mt. Kuno.
Next time, I’ll introduce Strawberry Picking in Kuno Area.

Bye for now !＾＾

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾