Nikkō Tōshogū

This is one of the best shrines we have seen while we are in Japan for 2 weeks! This beautiful complex is massive in size and it takes hours to get through it all! It is so beautiful with all the gorgeous Landscaping! All the architectures just amazing how they build everything and it is so well preserved! I was just taking pictures Non-Stop and I can't even post everything that we saw! I would simply love to go back here and see this again because there has to be a lot of statues and artifacts that we probably missed!

Not much to review at this temple—unless you’re a fan of peace, silence, and an abundance of spiritual energy. It’s the kind of place where the only noise is the sound of your thoughts (and maybe the occasional bird). But hey, that’s kind of the point, right? Sometimes the best experiences are the ones that don’t require a review at all—just quiet reflection and a lot of inner zen!

It’s very huge complex. The shrine itself is also very huge. It’s located very close to the iconic red bridge. You can buy the ticket in Tobu-Nikko Station or directly on the spot, but in the evening the tickets are most likely sold out.

We made the mistake of visiting here on a public holiday and the place was absolutely heaving with people to the point where you could barely walk. The shrine was impressive and vast and I'd say you'd need at least an hour to see everything. We went as part of a tour so we skipped the queue, the normal line outside was really really REALLY long! We liked the sleeping cat.

Witness this amazing piece of historical architecture, and admire the fine details in the design! The whole complex is huge, so it will take a while to go through all the temples. Some of them need to have tickets purchased separately.

Amazingly built shrine and surrounding landscapes. Very popular with the tourists. To enter the shrine, you have to buy a ticket. It is about 3 hours from Tokyo. You have to go to the Shinjuku bus terminal on the 4th floor to purchase your ticket. You can also buy it in advance and select your seats.

One of the best Shinto Shrines you’ll visit in Japan. Very well kept and super popular with Japanese and tourists alike. ¥1300 entrance fee is reasonable considering the work that goes into keeping it looking so good. Parking available around the Shrine or a 25 minute walk from JR station.

The designs, architecture, history are intensely beautiful and fascinating. Every small detail is so intricate. It's very busy and with big crowds. Fitness tip: The inner shrine is no cake walk. It is a lot of steep steps. Someone was being taken out on a stretcher as I began the entrance at the sleeping cat. So be cautious.

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.