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==Grounds==
==Grounds==
The main stone ''torii'' at the entrance to the shrine, designated an Important Cultural Property, was donated by [[Sakai Tadayo]] in [[1633]]. A side ''torii'' facing towards [[Shinobazu Pond]] was relocated to Ueno from Momijiyama Tôshôgû (within the grounds of [[Edo castle]]) in [[1873]].
The main stone ''torii'' at the entrance to the shrine, designated an Important Cultural Property, was donated by [[Sakai Tadayo]] in [[1633]]. A side ''torii'' facing towards [[Shinobazu Pond]] was relocated to Ueno from Momijiyama Tôshôgû (within the grounds of [[Edo castle]]) in [[1873]].
Most of the main buildings of the shrine - including the main hall (''shaden''), Chinese-style gate (''karamon''), and ''sukibei'' wall around the chief inner section of the grounds - date to 1651, and reflect the same ''gongen-zukuri'' architectural style as Nikkô Tôshôgû, built by many of the same carpenters and sculptors that same year. All are lavishly decorated in gold leaf and bright red, green, and other color paints. Carvings on the exceptionally elaborate ''karamon'' include some number of works by [[Hidari Jingoro|Hidari Jingorô]], who is also credited with many of the most famous carvings at Nikkô. Two dragons by Hidari, carved into the gate, are said to fly to nearby Shinobazu Pond every night to drink. The carvings on the gate and on the ''sukibei'' wall depict over two hundred species of plants and animals.
The grounds of the shrine include over two hundred stone lanterns, donated to the shrine by various ''daimyô'' as demonstrations of loyalty to the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Fifty copper lanterns stand among them, and one particularly large stone lantern, donated by [[Sakuma Katsuyuki]] in [[1631]] and dubbed ''Obake-tôrô'' ("Monster Lantern") for its exceptional size, stands just outside the shrine.
The grounds of the shrine include over two hundred stone lanterns, donated to the shrine by various ''daimyô'' as demonstrations of loyalty to the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Fifty copper lanterns stand among them, and one particularly large stone lantern, donated by [[Sakuma Katsuyuki]] in [[1631]] and dubbed ''Obake-tôrô'' ("Monster Lantern") for its exceptional size, stands just outside the shrine.
