This shrine was founded on the same grounds as the Zojoji Temple, which was the Tokugawa family temple in 1617. His life-size statue, which Ieyasu ordered to be created on his 60th birthday, is enshrined as a goshintai (sacred object). It is noted that Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered for it to be enshrined at the Zojoji Temple in order to guard the nation after he died.

When the Shiba Toshogu Shrine was originally built, it was named the Ankokuden Temple, which stemmed from Ieyasu’s Buddhist name. In the Buddhist religion, it is believed that when people die, they enter the Buddhist afterlife and their Buddhist name is given to them. However, by force of the Meiji Restoration (government-ordered separation of temples and shrines), this temple was separated from the Zojoji Temple and renamed the Shiba Toshogu Shrine. This is because the concept of enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu comes from the Shinto religion.

Although this shrine is located in Tokyo, it is surrounded by plenty of nature. Due to the sacred atmosphere of the Shiba Toshogu Shrine, a lot of people visit here in order to relax and escape the hectic atmosphere of Tokyo. There is a ginkgo tree planted on the property by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself and it is approximately 400 years old now. The tree is designated as a national natural treasure. The season of fall is a magnificent time to visit the gorgeous shrine grounds and see this beautiful tree.