Rokusho Shrine: The Guardian Deity of Tokugawa Ieyasu's Birthplace
Nestled in the heart of Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Rokusho Shrine (六所神社) stands as a magnificent testament to the deep bond between the Tokugawa clan and their ancestral guardian deity. As the ubusunagami — the tutelary god of one's birthplace — of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo Shogunate, this shrine has held a position of extraordinary reverence for centuries. Today, five of its buildings are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan, making Rokusho Shrine one of the finest examples of early Edo-period shrine architecture in the country.
A Sacred History Spanning Centuries
According to shrine tradition, Rokusho Shrine was originally established by imperial decree during the reign of Empress Saimei (655–661 CE), when the deity of Shiogama Rokusho Daimyojin from the Tohoku region was invited to this location. The shrine was later rebuilt during the era of Emperor Kanmu (781–806 CE), when the famed general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro prayed here before his campaign to pacify the eastern provinces, receiving the imperial plaque inscribed with "Rokusho Daimyojin."
The shrine's fortunes rose dramatically with the ascendance of the Matsudaira clan — the forebears of the Tokugawa. Matsudaira Chikauji, the clan's founder, originally enshrined the deity at Rokusho Mountain in Kamo District (present-day Toyota City), having received it from the Shiogama Shrine's Rokusho-gu in Mutsu Province. Later, Matsudaira Kiyoyasu, Ieyasu's grandfather, relocated the shrine to its current site in Okazaki during his time as lord of Okazaki Castle.
In 1542, when the young Takechiyo — the future Tokugawa Ieyasu — was born at Okazaki Castle, prayers were offered at Rokusho Shrine as the local guardian deity. This connection would elevate the shrine to unparalleled status once Ieyasu unified Japan and established the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Why Rokusho Shrine Is Designated as an Important Cultural Property
In 1935 (Showa 10), five structures at Rokusho Shrine were designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan: the Main Hall (Honden), Offering Hall (Heiden), Worship Hall (Haiden), Tower Gate (Romon), and Divine Kitchen (Shinkusho). Together with six miniature shrine cabinets (zushi) and six ridge-beam plaques (munafuda), these structures represent one of the most complete surviving ensembles of early Edo-period shrine architecture.
The designation recognizes both the architectural excellence and the historical significance of these buildings. Constructed under the direct patronage of the Tokugawa Shogunate, they exhibit a level of craftsmanship and artistic refinement that was reserved for only the most important religious sites of the era. Along with the nearby Iga Hachimangu Shrine, Rokusho Shrine represents the pinnacle of early modern shrine construction in Japan.
Architectural Highlights of Each Structure
Main Hall, Offering Hall, and Worship Hall (Honden, Heiden, Haiden)
The three main shrine buildings were constructed between 1634 and 1636 (Kan'ei 11–13) by order of the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu. The Shogun appointed Honda Tadatoshi, the lord of Okazaki Castle, as superintendent of the project, while the master carpenter Fujiwara (Suzuki) Choji — an official shogunate builder — oversaw the actual construction.
The buildings are arranged in the gongen-zukuri style, in which the Main Hall, Offering Hall, and Worship Hall are connected in a single complex. The Main Hall is a three-bay nagare-zukuri structure with a cypress bark (hiwadabuki) roof. The Worship Hall features five bays across and three bays deep, with an irimoya-style roof crowned by a chidori-hafu gable and a karahafu-style front porch. The entire complex is adorned with lavish polychrome paintings and gilded decorations that rival the splendor of the Toshogu shrines.
Tower Gate (Romon)
The imposing two-story gate was built slightly later, in 1688 (Jokyo 5). Measuring three bays wide with a single entrance, it features a cypress bark roof with delicate double-tiered eaves and a blend of Japanese and Chinese architectural motifs. The gate's brilliant vermillion lacquer and intricate carvings create a striking first impression as visitors ascend the stone stairway — the very stairway that was once reserved exclusively for feudal lords holding domains of 50,000 koku or more.
Divine Kitchen (Shinkusho)
The Shinkusho is a rare surviving example of a building dedicated to the preparation of sacred food offerings for the enshrined deities. Constructed alongside the main shrine complex between 1634 and 1636, it features a shingled kokera-buki roof. This type of structure is uncommon in Japanese shrine architecture, making it a particularly valuable element of the complex. A similar building can be found at the nearby Iga Hachimangu Shrine, where it is referred to as the Gokusho.
Restoration and Preservation
The shrine complex has undergone two major restoration campaigns. The first took place from 1973 to 1976 (Showa 48–51), when the buildings were restored using the same techniques employed at Nikko Toshogu, reviving the brilliant colors and gilding of the original Edo-period decorations. A second major restoration was completed in November 2017 (Heisei 29), after three years of meticulous work from 2014. This restoration brought the structures back to their full original splendor, allowing visitors to experience the shrine much as the feudal lords of the Edo period would have seen it.
Highlights and Things to See
Visitors approaching Rokusho Shrine will first encounter the 150-meter-long pine-lined avenue of trees said to be around 350 years old, planted during the third Shogun's reconstruction of the shrine grounds. After crossing the Meitetsu railway tracks, the sacred stone stairway leads up to the brilliantly painted Tower Gate.
Beyond the gate, the main shrine complex unfolds in a compact but deeply impressive arrangement. The polychrome decorations of the Worship Hall and Main Hall glow with gold leaf, vermillion, and intricate painted designs — a miniature echo of the famous Toshogu at Nikko. Visitors will also find the Sanko Daikoku Shrine with its wooden statue of Daikokuten, the bronze Mother and Puppy statue symbolizing safe childbirth, and a handprint of Tokugawa Ieyasu carved in Okazaki granite, owned by the Tokugawa Memorial Foundation.
The shrine is widely revered as a deity of safe childbirth and child-rearing, drawing expectant mothers from across the region. Special charms and amulets are available, including the popular "treasure bag" believed to bring good fortune with finances, and — exclusively on New Year's Day — the "treasure ship print" said to bring auspicious first dreams of the year.
Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions
Rokusho Shrine is located just a two-minute walk from the south exit of Higashi-Okazaki Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line, making it extremely accessible for travelers. The surrounding area offers a rich tapestry of Tokugawa-related historical sites.
Okazaki Castle, the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is a short walk north of the station and houses a museum dedicated to the region's samurai heritage. Iga Hachimangu Shrine, another Important Cultural Property with similar gongen-zukuri architecture from the same era, lies to the northwest. The Okazaki neighborhood along the old Tokaido highway preserves the atmosphere of a historic post-town, with traditional shops and eateries lining the streets.
Local culinary specialties include Okazaki's famous hatcho miso, a rich red soybean paste with a history stretching back to the Edo period, and various confections from the area's traditional Japanese sweets shops such as Masudaya and Izumiya.
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Q&A
- What are the Important Cultural Properties at Rokusho Shrine?
- Five buildings are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan: the Main Hall (Honden), Offering Hall (Heiden), Worship Hall (Haiden), Tower Gate (Romon), and Divine Kitchen (Shinkusho). Additionally, six miniature shrine cabinets (zushi) and six ridge-beam plaques (munafuda) are included as attached items.
- What is the connection between Rokusho Shrine and Tokugawa Ieyasu?
- Rokusho Shrine served as the ubusunagami (guardian deity of one's birthplace) for Tokugawa Ieyasu. When Ieyasu was born as Takechiyo at Okazaki Castle in 1542, prayers were offered at this shrine. The Tokugawa Shogunate later bestowed generous patronage upon the shrine, and the third Shogun Iemitsu ordered the construction of the magnificent buildings that stand today.
- How do I get to Rokusho Shrine?
- The shrine is approximately a 2-minute walk from the south exit of Higashi-Okazaki Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line. From Nagoya, take the Meitetsu Main Line to Higashi-Okazaki Station (about 30 minutes by express train).
- What blessings is Rokusho Shrine known for?
- Rokusho Shrine is widely revered as a deity of safe childbirth (anzan) and child-rearing, owing to its role as the guardian deity of Tokugawa Ieyasu's birth. It is also considered a power spot for general good fortune and financial luck. Special amulets and charms related to these blessings are available at the shrine office.
- Can I receive a goshuin (shrine seal stamp) at Rokusho Shrine?
- Yes, goshuin are available at the shrine office from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The shrine also offers an original goshuin-cho (stamp book) featuring a charming design with the Tokugawa hollyhock crest, temari balls, and cherry blossoms.
Basic Information
| Name | Rokusho Shrine (六所神社) |
|---|---|
| Cultural Property Designation | Important Cultural Property of Japan (designated May 13, 1935): Main Hall, Offering Hall, Worship Hall, Divine Kitchen, Tower Gate; with attached items: six miniature shrine cabinets and six ridge-beam plaques |
| Architectural Style | Gongen-zukuri (Main Hall/Offering Hall/Worship Hall connected complex); Main Hall: three-bay nagare-zukuri, cypress bark roof; Worship Hall: irimoya-zukuri with chidori-hafu and karahafu, cypress bark roof; Tower Gate: three-bay, single-entrance, irimoya-zukuri, cypress bark roof |
| Construction | Main Hall, Offering Hall, Worship Hall, and Divine Kitchen: 1634–1636 (Kan'ei 11–13); Tower Gate: 1688 (Jokyo 5) |
| Builder | Ordered by the third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu; overseen by Honda Tadatoshi (Lord of Okazaki Castle); constructed by master carpenter Fujiwara (Suzuki) Choji |
| Enshrined Deities | Sarutahiko-no-Mikoto, Shiotsuchi-no-Oji-no-Mikoto, Kotokatsu-Kunikatsu-Nagasa-no-Mikoto, and others (15 deities in total) |
| Address | 44 Mimitorigawa, Myodaiji-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture 444-0864 |
| Access | Approximately 2 minutes on foot from the south exit of Higashi-Okazaki Station (Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line) |
| Parking | Approximately 60 spaces available |
| Phone | 0564-51-2930 |
| Owner | Rokusho Shrine |
References
- 国指定：建造物 六所神社本殿、幣殿、拝殿、神供所、楼門（附：厨子、棟札） — 岡崎市
- https://www.city.okazaki.lg.jp/1300/1304/1332/p021517.html
- 六所神社 (岡崎市) — Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AD%E6%89%80%E7%A5%9E%E7%A4%BE_(%E5%B2%A1%E5%B4%8E%E5%B8%82)
- 六所神社 — 岡崎おでかけナビ（岡崎市観光協会公式サイト）
- https://okazaki-kanko.jp/point/494
- 第一番札所 六所神社 — おかまいり（岡崎市観光協会）
- https://okazaki-kanko.jp/feature/okamairi-12sha36zizo/12sha-rokusho
- 六所神社 本殿、幣殿、拝殿 — 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/144908
- 六所神社 — 愛知県の観光サイト Aichi Now
- https://aichinow.pref.aichi.jp/spots/detail/1966/
Last verified: 2026.04.04
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Rokusho Shrine Tower gate 0.02 km
- Rokusho Shrine shrine 0.03 km