• Various memorial events are held in Kawagoe as for the 400 years anniversary since the birth of Iemitsu Tokugawa in 2004. Senba Toshogu Shrine was open to the public for limited days, which has close relation to the Tokugawa family, as part of activities at Kitain Temple. Around main shrine is off-limits usually. Up to now, the main shrine does not have been open to the public in the history of 400 years.

• There seems to be 500 or more Toshogu shrines in the whole country though Nikko Toshogu shrine is most famous. Ieyasu Tokugawa's remains stayed in Kitain Temple for four days on the way to Nikko Toshogu shrine from Kunosan Toshogu Shrine of Shizuoka Prefecture in 1617 and held a service. Archbishop Tenkai created Senba Toshogu Shrine in 1633. However, it was burnt down by the Kawagoe conflagration in 1638, then Iemitsu ordered to rebuild, and it completed in 1640.

• There is a hall of worship when climbing up stone steps. Annex shrine was built next to the worship hall. The annex shrine is a building, where Ieyasu is enshrined as a god and offering is served to him. The annex shrine is hanging out Gosio emperor's frame, and there are a pair of stone guardian dogs inside. There is a main shrine in the innermost. High priest Tenkai rugged and engraving Ieyasu's wooden statue seems to be enshrined to the feretory enshrined to the main shrine. This general opening to the public is not open to the public in the main shrine either. The wall where the main shrine is surrounded is called Honored Fence. There is a gate of the entrance that is called China Gate in front of this wall.

• Because the main shrine was open to the public historically first time, I decided to take the recording mode that centers on the stone lantern where the main shrine and the surroundings are surrounded. Therefore, all 26 stone lanterns were taken though it becomes monotonous.

Re-painted worship hall.	Annex shrine attached to worship hall	Stone guardian dog in Annex shrine	Main shrine specially open to the public.
Entrance gate which is called China Gate.	Stone lanterns around the main shrine.	The main shrine seen from the left side.	The main shrine seen from the right side.
Left side of the main shrine.	Right side shrine. Fence is called Honored Fence.	The front of the main shrine.	The front of main shrine.
Left side of the main shrine.	Layout map of the stone lanterns.	Left of number 1.	Right of #1.
Left of #2.	Right of #2.	Left of #3.	Right of #3.
Left of #4.	Right of #4.	Left of #5.	Right of #5.
Left of #6.	Right of #6.	Left of #7.	Right of #7.
Left of #8.	Right of #8.	Left of #9.	Right of #9.
Left of #10.	Right of #10.	Left of #11.	Right of #11.
Left of #12.	Right of #12.	Left of #13.	Right of #13.

2006/11/01