Hokokubyo ( Mausoleum Of Toyotomi Hideyoshi )

I arrived before checking in at the hotel, so I climbed with a large bag. The stairs are tough, but I thought the middle gate I saw on the way up was the goal, but when I saw the real goal, I thought I'd give up. Shake off that evil feeling. The sense of accomplishment and the view after climbing is great! I went on a Sunday evening when there were a lot of tourists, but I only saw two groups passing each other. There was a person who made the round trip about 3 times. amazing. After it got tough, I counted 10 steps up the stairs and took a break. The same goes for life 🤣 Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which was just beyond the view, looked like an amazing place.

For an adult male, it takes 10 minutes based on the reception area. (There is a sign saying it takes 30 minutes, so if you go up leisurely, it will probably take about that long. However, it feels a bit steep, so you may need to be prepared.) Not only is the view of Kiyomizu-dera great, but I think it is also worth a visit for its historical value as the tomb of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was once a man of the world but was downgraded during the Edo Shogunate and revered again during the imperial era. Admission is 100 yen.

This is the place where Toyotomi Hideyoshi was buried after his death at Fushimi Castle. However, the Toyokuni Mausoleum at that time fell into disrepair during the Tokugawa period, and was rebuilt in the Meiji period when a new gigantic five-ringed pagoda was moved to the top of Mt. Amidagamine. The autumn leaves were beautiful at the top of the mountain. You can also see the three-story pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the stage-like main hall, the autumn leaves, and even the Imperial Palace and the city below. There are over 500 stone steps, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

In 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi died at Fushimi-Momoyama Castle and is laid to rest here. The long staircase is one step at a time that Hideyoshi walked... It takes 30 minutes round trip, Hideyoshi will sleep on the top deck, and if you look down you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of Kiyomizu Temple and the town of Kyoto ✨ This tomb was renovated in the Meiji period, and when Hideyoshi was dug up, he was found in a vase, looking like a god, with his legs crossed and his hands joined, protected by the highest level of technology. In fact, when Hideyoshi died, the god-making project began. First, an extravagant shrine was built, the name of the deity was Toyokuni Daimyojin, and in addition, a huge sanctuary was built in which the power of the Buddha was concentrated. 1.4 km from the approach, it is a sanctuary the size of 20 Tokyo Domes ✌️ Why did Hideyoshi want to become a god? It is said to have had a great influence on Christianity. As you know, during this period, it became popular not only among the people but also among feudal lords, and Hideyoshi could not ignore it, which is why he built a 19m-tall Great Buddha in this sanctuary. By the way, Nara has the largest Buddha statue in Kyoto, which is 15 meters tall. The other is his son Hideyori, who was only 5 years old when Hideyoshi died. I can see the kind of parental love that comes with the idea that if you become a god, everyone will worship you. However, Tokugawa Ieyasu would not allow it! If the Toyotomi family were to be destroyed within my lifetime...that would lead to the bell-inscription incident at Hoko-ji Temple, which is located below Toyokoku Mausoleum, and then to the Osaka Winter Siege. The Toyotomi family fell 😢 Everything was destroyed. However, in the Meiji era, the five-wheeled stone pagoda was built, and the shrine was rebuilt as Toyokuni Shrine, and the shrine returned as a god.

There are almost no Japanese people who don't know about Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but there are many who don't know about Toyokuni Mausoleum. And compared to Toshogu Shrine, which is visited by many tourists, there are almost no tourists at Toyokuni Mausoleum. Kunozan Toshogu Shrine and Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which are said to be the mausoleums of Tokugawa Ieyasu, are gorgeous buildings, but this Hideyoshi Mausoleum has only a long staircase and a tombstone. It is said that compared to the hardships that Lord Hideyoshi had to climb to the top of power, the difficulty of climbing the long stairs here is still not enough. There is a flat area and a gate in the middle of the stairs. This is where he was first buried.