Nikko Toshogu Shrine enshrines the most famous samurai leader, Tokugawa Ieyasu. He is one of the most important figures in Japan’s history, as he played a pivotal role in unifying the country. A year after his death, he was enshrined at Nikko, elevating his status to divinity. The shrine was built in 1617.
In 1999, Nikko Toshogu Shrine was officially registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Shrines and Temples of Nikko” group.
Admission is 1600 yen for adults.
The five story pagoda is a 36 meter tall structure outside the shrine’s main stone torii gate.
The Yomeimon Gate is a National Treasure, which is famous as being the most beautiful gate in Japan. The gate features more than 500 carvings, which cover a wide range of subjects.
Be ready to climb many steps when you visit here!
After this, it was down all of the steps I had walked up to get here!
(I visited this place in 2019 and posted about it here.)
I also finished off these little previously finished cross stitches.
This place was an unexpected find. It is a well preserved example of a late Edo era samurai residence that later served as a hotel for foreign visitors. It opened in 1873 as Kanaya Cottage Inn, with guests such as writer and explorer Isabella Bird, US President Ulysses S. Grant, Frank Lloyd Wright, Albert Einstein, Hellen Keller, Charlie Chaplin, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 2014, it was registered as a nationally designated cultural property.
Adult tickets are 550 yen and need to be purchased at the restaurant next to the History House Museum. There are no staff members in the museum itself, but I did notice cameras.
At the entrance is a display area, and a video presentation.
After the display/video area is the house itself. Visitors can walk around and view the house on their own. There is English, as well as Japanese signage.
This is a view of the garden from the front windows.
This is a model of the hotel.
The Japanese garden is gorgeous.
Looking back at the hotel.
After visiting the hotel, this was my lunch (tofu and vegetables) at a nearby Chinese restaurant.
