Ban no Soseki, Flag Base Stones
These small, dome-shaped stone caps can be found all along the procession to Iemitsu’s mausoleum. They cover holes for flagpoles cut into the base stones. Flags are used to decorate the walkways around the mausoleum during funerals and festivals. The stones date back to the rule of Iemitsu’s son Ietsuna (shogun 1651–1680) and are still used today. The stones are carved like turtle shells, and often visitors to the mausoleum will place small stones around the base to form the legs of the turtle. Similar base stones can be found at various places around Rinnoji Temple.