All about Nikko
How to get there
Accomodation in Nikko
As the town is pretty small there are not so many places to stay. But there is accomodation for all kinds of budget. You'll find two youth hostels, lots of pensions, minshuku (a cheaper version of ryokan), ryokan and hotels. It's recommended to book early because Nikko is a popular place among tourists. You can also make a day trip from Tokyo to Nikko if your schedule is tight. If you're interested in staying at a japanese style minshuku check this site for a list of minshuku in Nikko (japanese only): http://www.nikko-jp.org/cgi-bin/link/v_syuku.cgi?4
Spots to visit in Nikko
Shinkyo Bridge
The bridge crosses the river Daiya in Nikko. At the
point where the Shinkyo Bridge stands, the priest Shodo Shonin
who built the first Budhist temple in Nikko, crossed the
Daiya riding on two snakes (that's the legend). However, the
bridge that leads over the Daiya today is a reconstruction of
1907. The original Shinkyo Bridge of 1636 was destroyed by a
flood.
Rinno-ji Temple
The Rinno-ji Temple in Nikko was founded in 848 by the priest
Shodo. The temple expanded during the Edo period. At that time,
the Taiyu in Reibyo - a mausoleum for Tokugawa Iemitsu (one of
Shogun Tokugawa Shogunate) was built too. Furthermore, the
entire complex of the Rinno-ji temple includes the main shrine (the
Ai-no-ma-space), the Prayer Hall (haiden) and the Sanbutsu-do
Hall (which is the largest hall in Nikko). The Sanbutsu-do Hall
(three-Buddha Hall) contains gold-plated statues of Amida
Buddha, Senju Kannon and Bato Kannon.
The Homotsuden treasure hall, which shows a collection of temple
treasures, can be accessed by visitors. A short walk
through the complex of the Rinno-ji temple is worth the trip to
Nikko. The Rinno-ji Temple was appointed in 1999 with other
religious buildings in Nikko to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tosho-gu Shrine
The Tosho-gu Shrine was built by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson
of Tokugawa Ieyasu. With the magnificent Tosho-gu Shrine, which
is not a typical Japanese building due to its almost gaudy
appearance, Iemitsu put his power and wealth on display. The
shrine is rich with carvings that are colorful and partially
gilded. The buildings are painted mainly in red, yellow and
green. But precisely because of its lavish design, the Tosho-gu
shrine is well-known and shouldn't be missed during your Nikko
trip as it is one of the main attractions and sights in Nikko
and Japan.
Taiyuin-Byo Shrine
The second big and spectacular Japanese shrine in Nikko was
completed in 1653. It is the second most popular attraction for
travelers. The Taiyuin-byo shrine is the mausoleum of Tokugawa
Iemitsu and compared with the pompous Tosho-gu Shrine rather
elegant. The Color is of similar to the Tosho-gu Shrine. On the
site you will find some stone lanterns which were donated by the
daimyo. The entire complex of Taiyuin-byo Shrine includes the
Niomon Gate (the main entrance), the granite fountain, the
Nitenmon gate decorated by four guardian figures, the drum tower
and bell tower.
Nikko National Park
Furthermore, you should check out the Nikko National Park. The
national park covers a large area in which the Tosho-gu Shrine
is located. You can take a bus to the Chuzen-ji lake to see more
of the landscape of Nikko. You can also meet the famous monkeys
of Nikko that are common in this area. However, you should be
careful because the monkeys are known for their naughty behavior
and it can be a very unpleasant experience.