Kunozan Toshogu Museum

The Kunozan Toshogu Museum is a museum that houses and displays the treasures of Kunozan Toshogu (designated as a National Treasure), where Tokugawa Ieyasu was buried. Kunozan is positioned atop a cliff overlooking Suruga Bay, and after Ieyasu's death in Genwa 2 (1616), it became the first location where he was enshrined as a kami, making it a sacred site of profound significance to the Tokugawa clan.

The museum's sword collection holds outstanding importance in the history of Japanese blades. Particularly renowned are the swords said to have been designated for Tokugawa Ieyasu and armor pieces such as 'nanban-do-gusoku' (Western-style breastplate), alongside numerous dedicated and granted swords that Ieyasu is said to have cherished throughout his lifetime. Notably, the tachi from the Kamakura and Nanboku-Cho periods transmitted as 'Ieyasu's Dedications' include multiple masterworks by master smiths of the Ichimonji, Rai, and Soshu schools, testifying to Ieyasu's refined aesthetic sensibility and sophisticated eye for sword appreciation of the highest standard.

Furthermore, the museum houses Western swords (sabers) that were dedicated alongside the 'nanban-tokei' (Western clock) gifted to Ieyasu by Spanish King Philip III. As historical evidence of Ieyasu's international relations, these represent a rare collection demonstrating the global reach of sword culture.

Kunozan is a mountainous location accessed by climbing 1,159 stone steps (wordplay: 'ichi-ichi-goku-ro-san') or by ropeway, with a sacred space unfolding amid the stunning panorama overlooking Suruga Bay. The Toshogu shrine buildings are designated as National Treasures, and visiting the museum alongside the shrine allows guests to gain deep appreciation of Ieyasu's life and profound knowledge of sword culture.