Our plan for the day was shrines and more shrines (with a little bit of nature thrown in) and this was not unexpected as Nikko and the Shrines are World Heritage listed buildings so you couldn't come to here without seeing them. They are however just a small part of what Nikko has to offer but because of our limited time here it was the option we chose for today. (An extra day would still not have been enough for us to enjoy all that Nikko has to offer but if we had of done we could have included some of the lake area and some of the amazing walking trails around there......looks like I will have to do that next time around)
We started the day well with a hearty English breakfast before Charles took us into the town where we picked up our Y500 ($5.50 Aus) all day bus pass to use to take us around most of the historical sites. Luckily we timed things right arriving at most sites before the hordes of tourists did so we were able to walk and explore without too much of an issue and I'm glad because there was so much to see.
The Toshogu Shrine
This shrine is where Tokugawa Ieyasu (the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate) is entombed. It was a relatively simple shrine until his grandson expanded the structure to what is now today a complex with over a dozen buildings with intricate carvings and lots of gold leaf.
The most notable carvings are the 'see no, hear no, speak no evil monkeys" and the Sozonozo elephants (which were carved from the imagination of the artist who had never seen an elephant before).
There is a five storey pagoda, the Omotemon gate and Honjido Hall which houses the Crying Dragon. Entry to the shinre and grounds costs Y1300 with extra for the museum.
Rinnoji Temple
This temple is the most important in Nikko and was founded by Buddhist Monk Shodo Shonin who introduced Buddhism to Nikko.
The temple's main building the Sanbutsudo houses statues of the three Buddhist mountain deities that protect Nikko. Admission costs Y400
Taiyuinbyo
This shrine is the mausoleum of the third Tokugawa shogunate, Iemtisu, and is similar to his grandfather's, Toshogu Shrine.
Both of these sites have Buddhist and Shinto structures still in place which is a little unusual as throughout the Meiji period most shrines and temples had the others elements removed from them. Admission cost Y550
Futurasan Shrine
Another shrine established by Shodo Shonin, this is dedicated to the deities of Nikko's three most sacred mountains: Mount Nantai, Mount Nyoho and Mount Taro. This shrine is not as lavish as the others in the area but blends in more with the nature surrounding it.
There is a small area here that you need to pay Y200 to enter but you are able to wander around the rest of the grounds without payment.
Shinkyo Bridge
Is considered to be part of Futurasan Shrine and this 'sacred bridge'
stands at the entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples. The current bridge was built here in 1636 and has undergone some extensive restoration but is now open for the public to walk across which costs Y300.
From the bridge we walked alongside the Daiya-gawa river towards the Kanmanguchi Abyss which is roughly a 30minute walk and is very picturesque.
Along the way there are also a row of about 70 stone statues of Jizo
, a Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased along the way and it just adds to the mysteriousness of the area. It is incredibly peaceful and a little out of the way for most tourists so we were able to enjoy the area completely.
We had a fantastic day and after the Abyss
we made our way back to the train station for a pick-up from Charles, another home cooked meal and another night in front of the television while we enjoy our second to last day in Japan and I am already wishing that we had longer to spend here.