In this video I share with you our trip to Nikko, a little town in the mountains north-west of Tokyo famous with its beautiful nature and the Toshogu – a World Heritage Site with awe-inspiring shrines and temples. The Toshogu complex is the resting place of two of the Tokugawa Shoguns, – Ieyasu and Iemitsu. Shoguns were military rulers and Ieyasu was the Shogun who managed to unite Japan under one government. He was also the one who moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo, present days Tokyo. His grandson – Iemitsu was the one who expelled all foreigners and closed the borders of Japan for more than 200 years.
You may find the Toshogu complex has a very special vibe – the breathtakingly beautiful temple buildings with their rich decorations together with the huge trees lining the avenues are like a reflection of something that both men possessed in abundance – power. This sensation of power is quite impactful and is a part of what makes Toshogu such a remarkable place. Interestingly, none of them wished to be burried in a lavish way. It was Iemitsu, who greatly respected his grandfather who built a beautiful shrine to house his remains. For himself she chose a modest little shrine on the hill above the Taiyu-in Temple that is restricted to visitors.
The Nikkosan complex has many other amazing temples – I can’t even begin to describe them all, but I want to mention something I found strikingly beautiful. That is the black and gold SORINTO Tower behind the complex’ main temple, Rinno-ji. This tower is in the form of the finial typically found on the roof of a pagoda. It was constructed by the monk Tenkai, the chief priest of the Nikkosan temple complex in the early 1600’s when the Toshogu Shrine was built. The Sorinto houses a collection of Buddhist sutras and has great religious significance. The design for this monument was inspired by Saicho (767–822), the founder of the Japanese Tendai sect of Buddhism. He had six such finials built across the country to provide Japan with the divine protection of the Buddhist Law. Tenkai built this finial to protect eastern Japan, to ward off evil spirits, and to maintain peace within the realm.
In the next part of this video I will show you Toshogu – Ieyasu’s resting place and the home of the famous three monkeys ‘See no evil, hear no evil, say no evil.’ Have you heard of them?
There is a lot to see and learn in Nikko. A lot to enjoy too. A day trip from Tokyo is possible but to really take in all the richness of the site I would give myself at least two days there. If you want to see Nikko with me join me on one of the tours to Nikkosan that I offer. If interested drop me a line for details.
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ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF JAPAN TOURS:
In Japanese, the character WA (和) means harmony and equilibrium. The concept of WA can be observed in every aspect of life in Japan: from the way society functions to the harmonious way the elements of a Japanese garden are combined and the elegant, precise movements of a master performing a tea ceremony – all of that is WA and all aim to achieve perfect harmony.
At Spirit of Japan Tours we are dedicated to help you experience the spirit of WA on a deep and transformational level. Our carefully crafted tours incorporate the best of Japan’s irresistible charm: its ancient history and traditions, awe-inspiring natural beauty and its unique blend of spirituality, based on Zen and native Shinto practices. They are a joyful creation that will enhance your sense well-being and enjoyment of life and help you discover your own inner WA – the place where you are in perfect harmony with your own self and the world.