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Nikko Toshogu Shrine - Tokyo Hotels .com

Aesthetically pleasant Nikko Toshogu Shrine

An architectural masterpiece, the Nikko Toshogu Shrine was designed to complement its surrounding natural geography and ancient trees. A place that was once devoted to deep reverence and worship, the shrine is now a popular destination for visitors who want to see the lavish carvings that decorate the buildings. The tower gateway in particular features more than 300 carvings of dragons, giraffes, lions, mythical beasts, and Chinese sages. The famous "see-no-evil, speak-no-evil, hear-no-evil" monkeys reside on the Sacred Stable (Shinkyusha). And be sure to check out the carving of the sleeping cat along the eastern corridor wall, which is represented so realistically that the animal appears to be both asleep and fully aware of its surroundings, hauntingly alert to passersby.

This shrine is located in Nikko City (Tochigi Prefecture) and easily reached by taking the JR train from Tokyo Ueno Station to Utsunomiya Station and transferring to Nikko.