Atago Shrine

Atago Shrine stands gracefully atop Atago-yama, at 26 meters above sea level the highest natural elevation inside metropolitan Tokyo. The shrine was founded in 1603 on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate, enshrining Atago Gongen (deity of fire and disaster prevention) from Kyoto Shrine. One of the shrine's draws is its steep stone staircase called Otokozaka, known as the ”stone steps to success.” The steps are said to take their name from a historical anecdote in which Magaki Heikuro, a samurai warrior from the Shikoku Marugame Domain during the mid-17th century, climbed the steps on horseback before going on to become a master equestrian. The shrine has been involved in many other historical events. Visitors can enjoy seasonal views such as cherry blossoms in spring and colorful leaves in autumn. It is one of those places in urban Tokyo where one can find the beauty of nature at any time of year.