Driving past the Shinkyo bridge we headed towards the extravagantly decorated Toshogu shrine, another World Heritage site in Nikko. Hands down, this is one of the most famous shrines to visit in Nikko. The intricately detailed and decorated shrine was built in 1617. The Toshogu shrine served as the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was the founder of the Edo period, also known as Tokugawa Shogunate. The Tokugawa Shogunate was the last feudal military government to exist in Japan from 1603 to 1868. All leaders that were part of this government were referred to as Shoguns.
The magnitude of artistic detailing that has gone into building this momentous shrine is unbelievable. The Toshogu shrine comprises of more than a dozen buildings encompassing the cedar forest. While touring the shrine, I was left amazed by the countless wooden carvings in gold leaves that decorated the structures. It is said that the decorations here are not seen elsewhere in Japan. As you enter the shrine, a large ‘torii’ gate welcomes you following an elaborately adorned storehouses, a five-story pagoda the ornate Yommeimon Gate and the Honjido Hall that features the “Crying Dragon.”
Toshogu consists of both distinct Buddhist and Shinto elements. This is because up until the Meiji period it was common for places of worship to have coexisting religious aspects. However, while the rest of the country erased Buddhist features from shrines and vice versa, Toshogu did not carry out the same due to the two religions being so intensively integrated with each other already.
What a beautiful destination! Our roots are important indeed. Remembering where we came from, not forgetting the past while moving on!
Author
Exactly! Thanks for reading☺
Wow Nikko is gorgeous! You captured some great photos. I always find cultural history so fascinating.
Author
Thanks for reading Linda! Glad you enjoyed the post ☺
I’ve never heard of the town before but it looks gorgeous! I love finding places nearby to do a day trip when we can.
Author
Me too – there’s so many places to explore around us!
Wow! All of your pictures from this trip are stunning, but the view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance is absolutely breathtaking!
Author
Yess, Nikko is absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for reading ☺
Although I have never heard of this town, your pictures are breathtaking. Thanks for sharing.
Author
Thanks so much! ☺
WOW how lovely are your photos, this place looks beautiful. So colourful, vibrant and picturesque xx
Author
I love taking pictures! Thanks so much for reading! ☺
Nikko looks very pretty. I live in Nagoya, so Tokyo is very far away from me (and I also never been to Nikko). But, your photos make Nikko seem like a pretty place.
Author
I’ve been to Nagoya once before and it was lovely! Thanks for reading ☺
Japan is such a fascinating country! Your day trip to Nikko sounds like a wonderful discovery!
Author
Japan definitely is! Thanks so much for reading! ☺
Such a beautiful place that Nikko is! Japan and Tokyo is on my travel bucket list, I hope I can take this trip as soon as possible.
Author
Thanks so much for reading! Hope you get to visit Japan soon ☺
This is a great way to come back to your blogging. I have very good memories of visiting Nikko with my kids.It was and remains a special trip to Japan.
Author
Thanks so much for reading! So happy to hear this about your trip to Nikko ☺