Nikko Things to Do Tips by Wild_Orchid Top 5 Page for this destination

Visit the Five Storied Pagoda

The Five-Storied Pagoda stands at a height of 36 m and is located on the left of the main Ishdorii (Stone Gate).

Apparently, there are no floors inside & each story is connected directly. As an anti-earhquake device, the central pillar, with a diameter of 60cm, hangs from the height of the 4th floor by a chain and floats about 10cm off the ground.

This pagoda was built by Tadakatsu Sakai, the governor of Obama (former Fukui prefecture) in 1650, and burned down in 1815. It was rebuilt by Tadakatsu?s descendents in 1818.

The pagoda shows the historical influence of Buddhism to these parts.

Address: Tosho-gu Shrine Complex, Nikko

The Sacred Horse

This beautiful white horse was a gift from the government of New Zealand to the Japanese government. It lives in a stable within the compounds of this massive Toshogu temple complex. The sacred horse is only brought out for public viewing only twice a day for a few minutes. We were lucky because we were there during one of these times.
Isn't he just magnificent? I was lucky enough to see him up close and managed to take a few photos.

There is some protocol to be observed. We were informed to keep very quiet in order not to startle the horse. In addition, no one must come near the sacred horse or try to touch it. The path is cleared before the keeper brings the horse out. The horse allows itself to be photographed, and after a few minutes is led away back to its stables.

The Yomeimon Gate

The Yomeimon gate is also called Higurashino-mon. (“The Gate where people spend all day long looking.”)

The name of the Yomeimon came from one of the twelve gates in the Imperial court in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan.

This gate is a showcase to the ancient techniques of crafts and decoration (such as coloring, metal fitting and sculptures). Due to its magnificence, it is said that Japanese people never tire of looking at the gate all day long. Many visitors throng the gate & it is heavilly photographed from all angles in all its glory.

Indeed, it is a marvellous gate with intricate carvings and sculptures, which number over 500, all around its frame.

According to the Nikko official website, among the 500 sculptures are those of dragons, birds, flowers, Chinese Sages and mythical animals such as “Iki” and “horse-dragon”. “Iki” has a tusk, but no whiskers. The horse-dragon had two horns and a scaled body, and was described in ancient textx as being part of the dragon family. There are also sculptures of giraffes on either side of the door-frame. The intricate sculptures are not only found at the front of the gate but also at the back of it. Here there are 194 sculptures of imaginary animals which are called Reiju, i.e. Holy or Spritual animals.

According to our tour guide, in ancient Japan, the giraffe was a symbol of peace. When the great Tokugawa Ieyasu (and was the first Shogun ruler), unified Japan, peace was said to have come to the people and as a symbolic gesture, the giraffe was depicted within the Shrine complex. However, as no artists had ever seen the giraffe in real life, they drew the creature based on stories told by travellers and based on their own imaginations. The result (from what I could see), a cross between a dragon and a horse, with a peaceful, noble face. (as no photography is allowed within the shrine itself, you'll have to visit Nikko and see for yourself!).

Address: Toshu-gu Shrine Complex, Nikko

Directions: After the large stone Torii gate, is a flight of stairs. The lavish Yomeimon Gate stands atop this flight of stairs.

Website: http://www.nikko-jp.org/english/toshogu/index.html

Crest of the Tokugawa Family

Along the cedar-lined path heading towards the main shrine complex from the car park area, you will find this stone structure. It contains the crest of the Tokugawa Family, which is three hollyhock leaves joined to form a circle.

The powerful Tokugawa Ieyasu was a military strongman who unified Japan. He was the first Tokugawa shogun and begin his rule from the town of Edo in 1603. His family would continue to rule for 265 years.

Address: Tosho-gu Shrine Complex, Nikko

Directions: Along the Cedar-lined Omotesando.