Tokiwa Jinja

In the city of Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, Tokiwa Jinja is considered one of the major shrines in the prefecture and the most important shrine in the city. Tokiwa Jinja is located just outside of the Kairakuen Gardens, a large garden established by the local Tokugawa Daimyo and filled with plum trees. The shrine was officially founded in 1874 with approval of the government, but a small shrine had existed for longer in the park. Enshrined within are the spirits of Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628-1701) and Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860), both of whom were leaders of the Mito Branch of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo Period (1603-1869 C.E.). Of the three Tokugawa family branches in the shogunate, the Mito Branch was not only the smallest, making it the least wealthy and also the least influential, but the lord of the Mito Branch was the only one of the three that was not eligible to be named shogun. But the Mito Branch was not without its influence, partially because of its proximity to the capitol of Edo, but also because of the efforts of our two lords Mitsukuni and Nariaki. Mitsukuni gathered scholars to Mito to compile a comprehensive history of Japan called the Dai Nihonshi, and Nariaki established the Kairakuen Gardens. Their contributions to the city and the prefecture made them revered idols amongst the local population. Once officially enshrined at Tokiwa Jinja, Emperor Meiji gave them deified names Takayuzuru-umashi-michine-mikoto (Mitsukuni) and Oshitake-okuni-no-mitate-mikoto (Nariaki).

For the casual: 6. For the educated: 7.

This is a very easy shrine to get to with a train station just at the base of the hill. Visually, the shrine is a typically lovely shrine. It’s well made with luster and brilliance thanks to support from Emperor Meiji and the government. There are quite a few stairs, so be sure to take some time to rest, but that’s no problem thanks to the surrounding beauty. Genuinly, the shrine is in a massive park filled with plum trees, bamboo groves, and overlooking a lake with large spouts of water firing off in varying visual displays. February is the best time to see the plum blossoms bloom, but there are plenty of things to see all year.

These dolls are for the Hina Matsuri, a nationwide festival on March third every year. The Hina Matsuri is effectively a day to pray for the prosperity of daughters. Every family has variations of these dolls, each with a different meaning and purpose, which is often handed down, or a new set is gifted to young parents from their parents.

The plum blossoms come in a variety of colors from white like these, a light pink like cherries, to a rich magenta.