KoyaQuest

Tokugawa Family Mausoleum

Tokugawa-ke Reidai 徳川家霊台とくがわけ れいだい

Tokugawa Family Mausoleum

While most of Mt. Kōya’s monuments to famous historic figures are found within the huge cemetery of Oku-no-in, a notable exception is the family mausoleum of the Tokugawas, who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867.

The two ornate shrines standing side-by-side within the fenced enclosure were built in 1643 by the third Tokugawa Shōgun, Iemitsu (1604-1651), for his father Hidetada (1579-1632) and his grandfather Ieyasu (1543-1616).

A third building to house the mortuary tablets of other members of the so-called Three Houses of the Tokugawa once stood at the eastern edge of the precincts. It was lost to fire in 1888.

The enormous importance of the Tokugawa family and their role in the formation of modern Japan makes their mausolem at Mt. Kōya a popular stop for Japanese, though it may be of less interest to others. The fact that there is an admission fee of ¥200 may make this less of a priority for all but the most avid fan of Japanese history.

Visitors might find the Nyonindō, or Women's Hall, located a short walk up the hill from the Tokugawa Mausoleum, a more interesting spot.

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