We have now arrived to Nikko Toshogu Shrine,T the most famous shrine of the World Heritages in Nikko which enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo bakufu (shogunate).
Most of the shrine was renovated by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun, in the Great Reconstruction of the Kanei era in 1636. Inside the shrine, encompassed are 55 types of architecture including 8 national treasures and 34 important cultural properties.
Each architecture is decorated with sculpture, japan and brilliant color coatings crafted by famous craftsmen selected and gathered from all over Japan. It is said that the shrine is worth a total 40 to 100 billion yen in present currency value.
Before going up Yomeimon Gate, look at the detail on the side of the front of the gate known as Kairo.
Before going to Toshogu, you will come across the Yomeimon gate which looks absolutely magnificent close up.
Once you past the gate, to the left is a shrine known as Shinyosha:
While to the right is a small shrine known as Kagura-den:
While straight ahead is Karamon Gate which was going through renovations at the time.
But right behind the Karamon Gate is Toshogu which the public aren’t allowed to enter because of renovations and also because it’s where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo bakufu (shogunate) is enshrined. So, only special employees are allowed to gain entrance.
To the right of the Karamon is another building called Nemuri Neko (Sleeping Cat).
As I leave past the Yomeimon gate, I took one last look at the surrounding area and realized my time visiting this location, long on my bucket list, has been completed.
This is no doubt one of the most beautiful and possibly the fanciest shrine locations I have visited.
While there were renovations being done at certain areas, it shouldn’t prevent one from enjoying the location as there is so much to see and take in. If you want to visit Nikko, it’s a wonderful place to visit, so click here to learn more.
I definitely recommend Nikko’s Toshogu area to be on your bucket list!
