Zojoji Temple was designated as the family temple of the Tokugawa family by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Six Tokugawa shoguns (Hidetada II, Ienobu VI, Ietsugu VII, Ieshige IX, Ieyoshi XII, and Ieshige XIV) and their respective family members and children are buried there.
The mausoleum was a magnificent structure and designated as a national treasure, but it was destroyed during an air raid, and the bodies were reburied at the current location.
The mausoleum is open to the public from 10:00 to 16:00, and the admission fee is 1000 yen.
Shogun Ienari XII is not very well known, but he opposed his father Ienari XI because his extravagant spending brought the government to the verge of financial ruin.
He also attempted to have Yoshinobu become the next shogun, stating that his son Iesada was too feeble-minded and sickly to serve in that position. However, he was unable to do so due to opposition.
Although he had a good eye for people and the times, he was not fortunate in having a successful father and son, and is historically underappreciated. However, I am glad that he is not buried alongside the father and son who troubled him.