Nikkō Tōshogū

Ornate, intricate temple complex. Order tickets at the train station in Nikko as lines are very long even in the off season. Temples are colorful and sizable! We spent about an hour and felt we had time to take it all in. Lot and lots of stairs to get to the upper mist temple area but plenty to see at the lower level.

It’s worth the price. This temple is magnificent. The sculptures, the ornaments, and decorations are amazing. The trees are old (+400 years), one feels the energy of the place. We purchased a discount ticket as we came after 4pm (1 hour before closing), but this prevented us to visit every part of it (the way to the top was already closed). I would recommend to take your time to visit this temple. You will also learn a lot about Japan history.

Probably the most impressive shrine I've visited while in Japan. Amazing architectural details in multiple buildings in a wonderful natural surrounding. Quite important too since it is Tokugawa's resting place. Some very famous landmarks are here too, like that cat (not impressed) and the 3 monkeys that hear, see and speak no evil. Totally recommend it.

This shrine is absolutely breathtaking. It is a best of the best. The opulence and quality of the art work and craftsmanship overwhelms the senses. This is one of those bucket list items. A truly mesmerizing shrine. This alone is reason enough to visit Nikko.

Obviously a need to go to spot for locals and tourists alike. The masonry work on the walls here is inexplicably built with precision and beauty. ***buy tickets at the train station where you buy bus tickets. Long line at the shrine/ temple itself. If you are physically able I recommend walking to there is a short walk and a good stretch for all the stairs you will go up at the shrine. There are a lot of stairs for those overweight/ older/ medical issues be aware be safe be patient with yourself but it's worth the journey after all you made it all the way here to Japan take the extra steps to see some history. The area has some un-noted areas that are enjoyable to walk through though the area around the shrine has some good hills. I did not walk to the water fall but there is a sign saying 30 min walk to the waterfall which in restorspect I wish I had done. I bought a kimono at a small local shop for about half the price than tokyo and made on site by a wonderful elderly couple about halfway between the temple and train station. ATM is at family mart close to station but on the way for those that didn't prepare with enough cash(some food and soveneir places are cash only) Buy your express return tickets in advance they do sell out they are not refundable or exchangeable so plan accordingly but while. We stayed at a spa on other side of nikko and then went to the temole on way backput our baggage in large locker on platform 4 for 800-900 yen depending on locker size ( small bag check in upstairs)

Such a beautiful area! There are so many shrines and temples nearby to explore. Not to mention the wonderful nature in which they reside. I visited in autumn and the changing leaves provided the perfect backdrop to stroll through. It seemed like every corner I turned, there was another gem to be discovered. Highly recommend spending some time in this region!

A magnificent shrine dedicated to a famed warlord. Temples of Nikko UNESCO World Hertigate site and the higglight of any visit Tochigi.Shrine and temples were surrounded by beautiful forest. If you are first time visit Japan, it is a must go site, howeverz if you already visited Japan a few times ,you will the shrines and temples are more or less the same.

It was a leisurely and enjoyable walk up the shrine on a sunny 23 October 2025 day we visited. It was 1600 yen per pax for entry fee and luckily we bought tickets from the reception of the hotel we stayed in as there were long queues at the ticket booth. The shrine area was extremely crowded with local student tours, tour groups and visitors like us despite it being a weekday afternoon. There were quite a number of steps leading to the shrine which were quite steep without railings which may be challenging for the elderly. You could marvel at the fabulous architecture, the detailed carvings and complicated sculptures. We had to take take off our shoes to enter the Main Shrine, luckily we brough an extra pair of socks with us for walking around the Shrine. We were lucky to have bought a health charm inside the Main Shrine which was not found at the shops outside. You could also find a souvenir shop on the way to the shrine with lots Nikko goodies. Parking are toilets were available but ladies toilets were quite dirty and there were long queues too.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a must-visit. The area just looks amazing and we'll keep it. With so much to see it would be nice if it wasn't so crazy crowded. I couldn't believe how many people were here when I went here but I guess this place is quite famous to so many different people all around the world. It is beautiful and I would say if you can, come here for sure early. I came here during the afternoon and I felt like we were swarms of bees roaming around and seeing everything. It did take a little bit longer since so many people were here but it still was pretty.

Absolutely need to visit if you come to Japan. It's world unesco heritage certified! Huge shrine, lots of stuff to see inside and out. Amongst tall trees and forest, beautiful quiet place to pray and worship. See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil monkey is here, as well as the famous sleeping cat carving. Hardly any wifi, but it's easy to get once you're in town and about. Bus ride straight from Kinugawa as well as trains. You do need to walk a bit (10 mins)

We went to visit Nikko on a whim from Tokyo and I'm so happy we did. It's incredibly beautiful, especially in autumn with the leaves changing colors! I highly recommend purchasing a shrine ticket at the train station to save time at the shrine. Instead of taking the bus we instead walked through the streets of Nikko, which had a very small town feel and was extremely cute and pleasant. The shrine itself is very ornate and beautiful! Highly recommend to anyone visiting Tokyo!

Wow! Beyond descriptions!! If you wanna enjoy without crazy crowds, you should go there at 8:00 when they open. Then you don't need to wait in a long line to buy a ticket. Ticket: ¥1000-2000 $10-20 Parking lot: About ¥500 $5 Tip: 3 monkeys, a sleeping cat, a couple of sparrows, a cedar tree to make your dream come true, roaring dragon, etc....

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a must visit in Nikko Japan. Have you seen three wise monkeys? They are here. It's a part of Unesco World Heritage site. Toshio-gu is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Tokugawa shogunate, Tokugawa Edo period lasted 200 years, so you know how great this person was. I kept admiring carvings on their buildings. They had an audio guided tour available, thinking back I should have paid for it. I just listened other tour group's guide from time to time instead. My favorite was Buddhism temple part inside the Shinto shrine. They have a huge dragon picture on the ceiling. When you make noise under his face, it makes a loud noise as if he is crying. As I walked around, I kept praying every place possible and my wish came true if you believe in such things. I recommend reading a bit of Tokugawa history first prior to your visit to fully appreciate this place

Let's start with the big thank you to Toshogu for making this very good building. A little flashy but it's like they say, "the more the merrier". I give this building 5 golden stars that they can put up there with the rest of the golden orients *ornaments

Ok let me tell you about a super AWESOME place I WAS able to check out! First, let me mention, that this is a NATIONAL LANDMARK, not a business. BACKGROUND I was very fortunate to be part of a trip through Asia with my parents, which included a stop in Japan to visit some friends. After spending a couple days in Tokyo, our friend, Gerald, suggested we take a day trip to Nikko, to see the Toshogu Shrine. The Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a World Heritage site and NATIONAL LANDMARK (not a business), and is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikko," a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is most notable for the sculptures of the Three Wise Monkeys of "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil" fame. During my visit, I found out some of the rich history of this NATIONAL LANDMARK. I feel it is important to understand the history to better process what I'm seeing and I'm going to share a few tidbits below. NIKKO TOSHOGU SHRINE (THEN) Nikko Toshogu Shrine was built to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu, after his death in 1616. Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) was the founder and the first Shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate and one of the most famous people in Japanese history. He was a very powerful man and controlled the country even after his retirement. He left his will, "After my death, build a small shrine in Nikko and enshrine me as the God. I will be the guardian of Japan." Thus, his successor Tokugawa Iemitsu built Nikko Toshogu Shrine to bury and enshrine Ieyasu. Despite Ieyasu's will, Iemitsu made it one of the most gorgeous shrines in Japan. Five structures at Nikkō Tōshō-gū are categorized as National Treasures of Japan, and three more as Important Cultural Properties. Additionally, two swords in the possession of the shrine are National Treasures, and numerous other objects are Important Cultural Properties. Famous buildings at the Tōshō-gū include the richly decorated Yōmeimon, a gate that is also known as "higurashi-no-mon." The latter name means that one could look at it until sundown, and not tire of seeing it. Carvings in deep relief, painted in rich colors, decorate the surface of the structure. The next gate is the karamon decorated with white ornaments. Nearby, a carving of the sleepy cat, "Nemuri-neko," is attributed to Hidari Jingorō. The stable of the shrine's sacred horses bears a carving of the three wise monkeys, who hear, speak and see no evil, a traditional symbol in Chinese and Japanese culture. The original five-story pagoda was donated by a daimyo in 1650, but it was burned down during a fire, and was rebuilt in 1818. Each story represents an element - earth, water, fire, wind and aether/void - in ascending order. Inside the pagoda, a central shinbashira pillar hangs from chains to minimize damage from earthquakes. (see pics) Shinkyo Bridge (Shinkyo literally means sacred bridge) is a distinctive red bridge is actually part of Futarasan Shrine, but is some distance from the main shrine buildings. Shinkyo Bridge is just at the edge of the township of Nikko and next to the main road. In feudal times, only the shogun was permitted to cross Shinkyo Bridge. (see pics) NIKKO TOSHOGU SHRINE (NOW) MY experiences were, that the area is quite expansive and there is a lot to see, so my suggestion is to prioritize the things you most want to see, or plan on spending a long day leisurely seeing everything, at least that was MY approach. OUR STORY & SERVICE EXPERIENCE My parents and I were lucky to have our friends, Gerald and his wife, arrange the transportation from Tokyo and show us around, but I know we would have had a much different experience if we had tried to do it all on our own. I noticed several tour buses from Tokyo, which seem to also include lunch and snacks, that looked like a good alternative if you don't feel motivated to organize everything on your own. As a NATIONAL LANDMARK, the staff was not obtrusive and mostly not even noticeable. The staff was helpful, especially if I had any questions or I needed assistance. CONCLUSION This is definitely a place to go out of your way to see! I will definitely come back! 5/5 RECOMMEND OF NOTE *Tour Information: http://www.gojapango.com/tour/nikko-national-park-day-trip-from-tokyo/2142TYO_F300_F308 *Hours: April 1 - October 31 Daily: 8:00am - 5:00 pm November 1 - March 31 Daily: 8:00am - 4:00 pm *For more information: https://www.toshogu.jp/english/hours/index.html

Definitely worth the trip from Tokyo...about 2-2.5 hours driving. It's a stunning Shinto shrine, definitely worthy of its UNESCO status. Highly recommend the climb to the tomb at the back of the complex. We booked a day tour with English guide...a smart investment!

4.5 stars! Nikko Toshogu Shrine is definitely worth visiting for a day trip, especially if you have done all your touristy stuff within Tokyo vicinity already. The shrine itself is probably one of the (f not...the most) grandiose ones I've seen in Japan. Typically, I go into a Japanese Shrine expecting it to be all made of wood. With Nikko Toshogu Shrine, however, it's gold and all marvelous paintings inside the shrine. In a way, this shouldn't be a surprise, as the shrine was built by the Ieyasu family (according to the local guide we had). I found it also very interesting as it seemed to have more Chinese and perhaps Dutch influences (judging from the painting/decor/sculptures within the shrine area) than other shrines in Japan I have visited. I wished we were not in a rush to walk through the shrine. If you are someone who's interested in taking the time to explore the cultural aspect of this shrine, I'd say, budget at least 2-3 hours to stroll around at your own leisure. Our group did it in 1.5 hours (because we had to catch a bus back to Tokyo) and I only wished we had more time to explore without rushing so much.

While visiting Tokyo, we took a day trip to Nikko - and were extremely impressed. The Nikko Toshogu Shrine is part of the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are so many things jam packed into this space for you to see. Including one of my favorites - a five-story pagoda. For some reason I assumed these would be everywhere in Tokyo, but instead we arrived to skyscrapers - so whenever we saw a pagoda we were stoked. Another point of interest is the grave of Ieyasu. You climb up hundreds of stone steps, through the forest - resting along the way if you'd like - and then arrive to the tomb. I'll admit the walk itself was more impressive than the tomb. But, I recommend it offers up really nice views. Right when you walk in there is the stable of the shrine's sacred horses. Around the top there are carvings in the wood of the three wise monkeys - you know the ones...hear, speak and see no evil. It's really impressive - and has a nice story for you to read. Basically every nook and cranny of this place is a photo op - and a trip into the past. We were able to bang everything out in an hour or two - and move on to the next site....but you can easily spend a few extra hours here. Highly recommend as a day trip to anyone visiting Tokyo.

Nikko is situated 140 kilometres north of Tokyo and very famous for its impressive shrines dating back to the 17th century when this place was very important to Buddhists and Schintoists alike. Already 1,200 years ago, a Buddhist priest founded the first temple in Nikko and laid the foundation of its spiritual significance long before it unfolded its maximum splendour. Take the train from Tokyo to Nikko and plan a whole day to soak it all in and make sure to visit all major shrines which are Tosho-gu, Taiyuin-byo, Futara-san and Rinno-ji. Since they are very popular with Japanese and international tourists you will need quite some time to take pictures without a million "photobombers" ;OD! You will get hundreds and thousands of opportunities to take numerous beautiful pictures. Especially Yomeimon Gate, the five-storey pagoda, the bell tower and the drum tower of Tosho-gu are so beautiful. At Taiyuin-byo you will find another pair of bell and drum towers - the drum tower represents birth and all good things, the bell tower death and other unpleasant matters. Explore each and every corner or you might miss Kokamon Gate which is nicely shaped and stunning. Most famous detail at Tosho-gu Shrine are the Three Wise Monkeys - one covering its ears, one covering its snout and one covering its eyes. Sad and funny that these monkeys have become a symbol of indifference and lack of moral responsibility in Western countries. In Buddhist traditions, they represent the concept of not seeing, not hearing and not speaking evil ... not being tempted by and not giving in to negative and evil powers. Before travelling Japan, I did not like any "replica" of the three monkeys at all, but the moment I saw the original wood carving at the Holy Stable and found out about their true meaning, I fell in love with those cute guys :O). Just one more note: as far as I remember, the Japan Rail Pass you have to purchase at home is not valid on trains to Nikko. Just be prepared to pay extra.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a pretty unique place. It's unlike any other place that you will visit in Japan. It is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most respected and known individuals in Japanese history. Most traditional Japanese locations are very nature based. There isn't much flash to them, but instead they rely on the calming attributes of nature to impress people. At Nikko, though, they went beyond that. First of all, this is a shrine complex. It is very large with various sites that visitors can go to. The statues are complex. You can tell that the creators of it wanted to show off and stand out. Compared to modern building design it's not easy to tell, but if you compare Nikko to other buildings from the era it was built then you'll see how they wanted to make this place pop. It's not just another shrine, that's for sure.

Definitely as must see when you visit Japan and get ready for the hike because you will be doing a lot of walking. But the beauty of this shrine is worth it and this city is exceptionally in my opinion. If you seen my photos of this beautiful place you will understand what I'm talking about. This city is a must visit whenever you are in Japan. Take the tour and try to stay in the hotel next to their beautiful train station.

I really like Ieyasu Tokugawa.It was my honor to visit his shrine in Nikko Japan.It was located around 2km(1.24 miles) from Tobu Nikko.I walked to there.The sando(the approach) to the shrine was interesting.There were many interesting restaurants and gift shops.I arrived near the shrine.I still had to walk on the stairs and steep slopes.The buildings were amazing.But I had to pay admission fees. It was not high (2100 yen including the hobutsukan- museum).I had to take off my shoes at a couple of buildings because of one of the Japanese traditions.I had to respect " No photography policies" at a couple of shrines.I went to Ieyasu Tokugawa's grave.It was an holy place during Edo period (1603-1868) in which Tokugawa clan dominated Japan.I visited the museum.There were many precious documents, pictures and other which were related to Ieyasu Tokugawa.This is a great place near Tokyo.You must visit here if you stay Tokyo over one week.

Nikkō Tōshō-gū 日光東照宮 was magnificent in many ways. Tōshō-gū was dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu who started 250 year's Tokugawa shogunate. It was built in 1617 by his son Hidetada and expanded by grandson Iemitsu. Ieyasu is enshrined and entombed in Tōshō-gū. It listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. The lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen buildings. Woodcarvings and numerous gold leaves were used to decorate the buildings. Toshogu mixed Shinto and Buddhist elements. After paid the entrance fee, we passed front gate, came to a group of decorated storehouses with many colorful and elaborate woodcarvings including "Three Wise Monkeys and the "Imagined Elephants". Past the storehouses stood the renowned Yomeimon Gate, which was totally covered due to construction. What a shame. The main shrine building was next to Yomeimon. We entered there leaving our shoes outside. To the right of the main shrine building is the Sakashitamon Gate, on top, there's a carving of "The Sleeping Cat" said is a national treasure. After that, we stepped up a long flight of stairs leading to Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb. We gazed at the Karamon Gate (The Gate with Chinese Motifs) which was painted white using gofun and decorated with detailed inscriptions related to Chinese legends. We saw shrines, the bell, Dutch Lantern, the 5-story pagoda and more shrines.....

Yelp doesn't split out the shrines in this large area, but understand that there are at least five separate temple compounds within this one park with over 103 buildings and structures. The five areas all have separate admission fees, but they are relatively cheap. You can spend all day here, so budget accordingly if you are day-tripping from Tokyo. Tōshō-gū is the most famous and most crowded shrine, and it is also the largest and most impressive. There is a lot of space to cover and many paths to explore. One path, the Nemuri-neko (sleeping cat) area, leads you far up a mountain on a steep path. The landscape is impressive with massive trees similar to redwoods. The environment looks like Canada's British Columbia. It takes at least an hour to do this one shrine. Then, you have at least four other compounds in close proximity that range from impressive to meh. Nothing costs that much, so you aren't wasting money. Make sure you are suited up for a lot of hiking and exercise. My wife injured her knee walking down the sleeping cat steps.

This shrine is beautiful and ornate well beyond most you will see. It really is grand. Nikko is beautiful, but it will be crowded even on a weekday with heavy rain! I still enjoyed myself though. All the shrines do add up in cost though... but Toshogu Shrine is absolutely worth it.

Very impressive site with well-preserved artifacts. It gets very busy here which did take away from the experience. I would recommend getting here as early as possible. Also, be prepared to walk and climb many steep stairs. Everyone visiting Tokyo should visit Nikko.