上野東照宮に入る手前の門の横に「東照宮略記」が掲げられているが、これによると、

「御祭神」　徳川家康、徳川吉宗、徳川慶喜

「縁起」元和２年（１６１６年）２月見舞いの為駿府城にいた藤堂高虎と天海僧正は危篤の家康公の病床に招かれ、三人一処に末永く魂の鎮まるところを造って欲しいと遺言された。そこで高虎の家敷地であるこの上野の山に寛永４年（１６２７年）に本宮を造営した。その後将軍家光はこの建物に満足できず慶安４年現在の社殿を造営替えし、江戸の象徴とした。ここには唐門には「左甚五郎作」の龍の彫刻があると書かれてある。

Next to the gate before entering Ueno Toshogu Shrine, there is a "Simple Explanation on Toshogu shrine" on it, according to this,

"Sacred God": Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa Yoshimune, Tokugawa Yoshinobu

"Who build the Shrine and Why"
In February of the 2nd year of Genna (1616), Todo Takatora and Monst Tenkai, who were at Sunpu Castle for a visit, were invited to the sickbed of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was in critical condition, and bequeathed that he wanted the three of them to build a place where their souls could rest for a long time.

Therefore, the main shrine was built o this moutain in Ueno、which is the site of Takatora's house, in the 4th year of Kanei (1627). After that, Shogun Iemitsu was not satisfied with this building and rebuilt the current shrine in Keian 4 and made it a symbol of Edo. It is written here that Karamon Gate has a dragon sculpture made by Jingoro Hidari.