Nikko, located in Tochigi Prefecture (140 km North of Tokyo), is one of Japan's major attractions. Located in the mountains, with amazing temples, and rich history, it's a popular place to visit.
Nikko is where Tokugawa Ieyasu, who established the shogunate that ruled for more than 250 years starting after the battle of Sekigahara up until the Meiji Restoration when Commodore Perry arrived on his famous black ships, opening up Japan for trade... and the rest is history.
Anyway the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, built by Ieyasu's grandson in 1617 is probably what Nikko is most known for... pretty modest. I would have built something that stands out. He only used 15,000 artisans working 2 years straight.
Also, the famous three monkeys... "see no evil, hear no evil, ans speak no evil" is here at the sacred stables... the current horse is a Kiwi... donated by the NZ government.
Even at World Heritage Sites... I guess folks don't like to double check their signs.
a word to the wise... don't wear these types of shoes to Nikko... or to Japan... or really ever.
The area has 1400 year old trees that were planted when the area was first considered a special site.
... and the Enumsibi-No-Sasa... people believed that if a couple can tie this bamboo grass usiing only their thumbs and pinky, the couple will be married... hmmm...
... and Sake-No-Izumi... literally the "fountain of sake". I ran up to this one, much to my disappointment. It's just water... but I guess if you are a sake maker, you are supposed to add a little water from this spring, and your sake comes out choice.
That night we were exhausted... I think sightseeing uses different types of energy. We walked up the road to a small onsen and relazed.
The next morning, went on a quick run...
Then we took a bus up Iroha-zaka road...
Up to a beautiful lake (Lake Chuzenji) with Nantai-San (Black Body Mtn) looming behind. Kimbo and I did a nice hike near by, and took a look at one of Japan's highest waterfalls at 97 meters... which has an elevator you can ride to the bottom... enticing, but we didn't ride the elevator down.
Posts
3 comments:
Was that picture of Iroha-zaka road was pulled from the internet or something? Is Japan such a magical place that it can look like mid-autumn with all the trees in color if you look at that hillside, but then everywhere else is green and lush???
Looks like you guys are having a great time!
When you were talking about Commodore Perry, I was thinking of this guy: http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/beerProfile.php?beer_id=00000018
Don't Give Up the Sip!
Japan is magical... but yes that pic was pulled off the internets... we could never get a good view of the road while we were on it...
And funk... we shall vow not to give up the sip. What a preposterous idea. Speaking of which... we had a great night out in Hiroshima's drinking district (highest concentration of bars/sq. meter in the country... or maybe the world) with Moses. You'll have to ask him about it.
Post a Comment