Exploring Nikko Toshogu Shrine

On October 20, 2023, the eleventh day of our two-week trip to Japan, we started the day with breakfast, checked out, and headed to one of Nikko's iconic sights, the Shinkyo Bridge. Built in 1636, this bridge was once reserved for important figures like shoguns or imperial envoys. Nowadays, visitors can purchase tickets to cross it, though it opens at 9 AM. We opted for a distant photo from the Nikko Bridge instead. After passing through the main gate, we explored various historical structures, including the three sacred storehouses, the sacred stable, the library, and the second torii, leading us to the Yomeimon Gate, the first gate of the main Toshogu Shrine complex. Nikko Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo Shogunate and one of Japan's 'Three Unifiers.' After Ieyasu's death in 1616, his remains were initially interred at Kunozan, with plans to move them to Nikko three years later. However, his son, the second shogun Hidetada, expedited the transfer due to his own health concerns. Initially, a small shrine was built in Nikko, but it was greatly expanded by Ieyasu's grandson, the third shogun Iemitsu, who admired his grandfather. By 1645, the shrine had been granted the title of Toshogu by the Kyoto court. The stone torii (first torii) was donated by the famous daimyo Kuroda Nagamasa. The original main gate, depicted in one of the images, features statues of the Nio guardians. The five-story pagoda was donated by Sakai Tadakatsu, a Tokugawa retainer. Interestingly, despite the similarity in their names, he was not related to Sakai Tadatsugu, one of the 'Four Heavenly Kings' of Tokugawa. For more information on Shinkyo Bridge, visit their website. The bridge is open from 8 AM to 5 PM from April to October and from 9 AM to 4 PM from November to March. Tickets cost ¥300 for adults, ¥200 for university students, and ¥100 for elementary and middle school students.