Nikko .. in the Rain


Toshogu- Mausoleum and Shrine

The main complex at Nikko is the mausoleum of the most famous shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu. The temple is the most opulent that I have seen in two years in Japan and even in the pouring rain it was worth the visit.



As usual every temple is a large complex of buildings


Entry to the temple


Figure in the Yomeimon Gate.


Figure in the Yomeimon Gate. In most temples the figures are bare stone. Here they are painted


And the crowd in the rain. Much time was spent saying "Hello" back to the hoards of school kids who kept trying to talk to us as they went past.


School photos in the rain


The entire complex was wet, crowded and colourful


Look no people!!


This is the stable, but it is the most famous building here. Carved into the stable is a story about the life of a monkey.


"hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" - most famous of the monkeys - and it is the original! - this is based on the three major principles of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. According to Wikipedia, the three monkeys are "Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil". - wiki


More monkey life


And lots more of that


End of the panels


"Nearby, you can also find an interesting approximation of an elephant, carved by an artist who had clearly never seen one". - Wiki


Close up of the Elephants


Heading toward the main shrine. The trees offered little protection from the rain but they were extra ordinarily large.


From the steps of the Honji-do temple

Dragon
Image on the roof on Honji-do. Scanned from the guidebook. The painting is originally by Yasunobu Eishin but the building burned down and it was redone in the 1960's by Nampu Katayama.


The rain gave quite an ethereal atmosphere


Close up of the wall


Under restoration, but still impressive


At the top of another climb of 200 stairs and more "Hello's" to the various kids practicing their english we reached Taiyuin-byō and the tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Surprisingly simple after all the glamour and glitz of the temple. I liked it.


Futatsu-do

Walking between the main temples we passed this one. Dates from 848AD, but probably burned down. It was fairly nondescript and we moved on.


Gate with the Tokagawa emblem on it.


For the kids


Rin-no-ji Temple

Built in the memory of the third shogun Iyemitsu


Many large trees dominated the landscape


Statue of a warrior god in the main gate


Niten-mon gate at Rin-no-ji Temple


Check the size of those trees...and the rain


Look for the person with the umbrella to give you an idea of scale

Lunch-- Soba Noodles


We went down the hill for lunch, finally beaten by the impressive non-stop rain. Looking forward as we walked gives you an idea of the day.


Shinkyō bridge. This bridge separates the shrines from the town. Only the shogun was allowed to cross this bridge, even today it's blocked from pedestrians.


Overall a good day. I highly recommend a visit to Nikko, even for experienced temple visitors





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