Given the direction we were coming from, and an unfamiliarity with the actual lie of the land we entered the temple complex from the side, rather than through the massive Sanmon entrance gate constructed in 1628 by Todo Takatora in memory of soldiers who died in the siege of Osaka Castle in 1615.
The temple was closely affiliated with the the Tokugawa era (1603–1868) shoguns, and it has been suggested the huge gate, with an excellent view across the city, served as a type of observation post to monitor imperial activity.