Good evening!
Today, we would like to introduce the 'Atago Shrine', which is a 21-minute walk from our hotel.
At the command of Tokugawa Ieyasu,
the Atago Shrine was established as the guardian deity of fire prevention and disaster prevention in Edo.
Passing through the large torii gate, you will find a long stone staircase with 86 steps right in front of you!
This is called the 'Stairs of Success,' and its origin dates back to the Edo period.
This is about when the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, passed by the Atago Shrine.
It was a day when the plum blossoms were in full bloom.
Noticing the scent of plum blossoms drifting from Atago Mountain, Iemitsu ordered his attendants to fetch some plums on horseback.
While many were intimidated by the steep stone steps, Heikuro Magarita, a retainer of the Marugame Domain in Shikoku, rode up the stone steps on horseback and brought back a branch of plum blossoms as an offering.
From this point, Lord Iemitsu raised Heikuro's name as the best equestrian in Japan.
It is said that this led to it being called the Stone Steps of Success.
The 86 stone steps have a height of about 20 centimeters each!
As someone who lacks exercise, I was quite out of breath after climbing all the stairs, haha.
We hope you will visit us too! ☺️