Nikko
Monday, October 10, 2016
We took a train from Tokyo Station north to Nikko. It was more complicated than that, due to a track closure, so we’ll just say it was a long day trip!
Some of the temples are covered with scaffolding while undergoing work. Rumor is, for them to be spruced up for the 2020 Olympics.
We went in the Rinnoji Temple, covered with scaffolding. Disappointing!
This is a nice temple without scaffolding at the Toshogu Shrine.
We spent time strolling around the beautiful area of the Toshogu Shrine. Here is the main shrine building.
The ornamentation is wonderful. Here is “see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil.”
The artist had never seen an elephant before making this carving.
There was a long line of visitors taking a picture of this sleeping cat in the transom of the nearby Sakashitamon Gate, so we took its picture, too.
This is a part of Futarasan Shrine, founded in 782.
Drinking water is piped in to this enclosure.
This is a part of Taiyuinbyo, a mausoleum.
This is the sacred Shinkyo Bridge, built in 1636. It is a part of the Futarasan Shrine.
After looking at the bridge, we walked back towards the station to catch a train back to Tokyo.
We did a day trip from Tokyo up to Nikko and back—a really long day!
