Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine

Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine

Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine is strategically located to the north-east of Hiroshima Castle. The shrine acts as a protection against the “kimon” (demon gate). In traditional Japanese belief, evil spirits come from the north-east. Therefore it is not uncommon to see old castle towns having temple and shrine districts to the north-east of the castle.

The Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine was first constructed in 1648 by Mitsuakira Asano, who at the time ruled the Hiroshima area from Hiroshima Castle. Like all other Toshogu Shrines around Japan, the one in Hiroshima is dedicated to Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Mitsuakira had family ties with the Tokugawa shogunate, as his mother, Furihime Tokugawa, was the daughter of Ieyasu Tokugawa, and so had great motivation for constructing the Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine.

Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine is strategically located to the north-east of Hiroshima Castle. The shrine acts as a protection against the “kimon” (demon gate). In traditional Japanese belief, evil spirits come from the north-east. Therefore it is not uncommon to see old castle towns having temple and shrine districts to the north-east of the castle. The temples and shrines would serve as protection for the evil coming from the north-east. This is also the case in Hiroshima where multiple temples and shrines are located around mount Futabayama, directly north-east of the castle.