Nikko Toshogu Shrine, The World Heritage Site

Almost all the shrine complexes we see were rebuilt in 1636, twenty years after Tokugawa Ieyasu’s enshrine
-ment. Fifty-five buildings, including Yomeimon Gate (designated a National Treasure), were completed in
just one year and five months. According to the financial records which are stored in the shrine, the cost was
equivalent to of 40 billion yen with current monetary value. The renovation project was administered by
Akimoto Yasutomo, the governor of Tajima Province, and the actual construction and carpentry work was
the responsibility of master carpenter Kora-Bungo Munehiro. One of the special features of the shrine complex
is the use of paths and stairways that follow the natural topography of the site, allowing the arrangement of
the shrine buildings in a pleasing balance to create a solemn, religious atmosphere. The buildings are
lacquered and decorated with vibrant colors, and the pillars and other structures are covered in a multitude
of carvings. The carvings not simply design elements; they convey expressions of religious belief as well as
scholarship and philosophy.

私たちが目にする社殿のほとんどは、徳川家康の鎮座から20年後の1636年に再建されました。国宝に指定されている
陽明門を含む55棟の建物が、わずか1年5ヶ月で完成しました。社殿に収蔵されている会計記録によると、その費用は
2018年の貨幣価値で400億円に相当します。この再建事業は但馬守安元泰朝が執り行い、実際の建築と大工工事は、
棟梁の甲良豊後宗広が担当しました。 神社境内の特徴の一つは、自然の地形に沿った参道と階段が用いられている
ことです。 これにより、社殿が心地よいバランスで配置され、荘厳で宗教的な雰囲気が醸し出されています。 社殿は
漆塗りされ、鮮やかな色彩で装飾され、柱やその他の構造物には無数の彫刻が施されています。 彫刻は単なる意匠では
なく、宗教的信仰だけでなく、学問や哲学の表現も伝えています。



(L) Sacred Bridge, part of the Futarasan Shrine　 神橋
(R) The entrance to Toshougu Shrine and Stone Torii Gate　日光東照宮表参道


The Sacred Bridge crossing the Daiya River belongs to the Futarasan Shrine. This vermilion lacquered
structure is known as one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan and is a perfect gateway for Nikko.
The bridge was registered as a World Heritage in December 1999. It measures 28 meters long, 7.4 meters
wide, and stands 10.6 meters above the Daiya River.
The important cultural property Ishidorii Gate was dedicated in 1618 by Kuroda Nagamasa, the feudal
lord of Kyushu Chikuzen (present day Fukuoka Prefecture). The stone for the use of the gate was
transported by ship from Kyushu to Koyama and then manually hauled over land to Nikko.

大谷川に架かる神橋は、二荒山神社に所属、朱塗りの美しいこの橋は、日本三大美橋の一つとして知られ、1999年に
世界遺産に登録されました。長さ28メートル、幅7.4メートル、大谷川からの高さは10.6メートルです。石鳥居は、
1618年に九州筑前の藩主黒田長政によって奉納されました。



Five-story Pagoda　五重塔


As designated an Important Cultural Property, the Gojunoto Pagoda was dedicated in 1648 by Sakai Tadakatsu,
the feudal lord of Obama in Wakasa Province (present day Fukui Prefecture). It was destroyed by fire in
1815 and rebuilt in 1818 by Sakai Tadayuki, a lord of the same lineage.

重要文化財に指定されている五重塔は、1648年に若狭国小浜藩主酒井忠勝によって建立されました。1815年に焼失、
1818年に同藩主酒井忠行によって再建されました。



Front Gate 　表門


Omotemon (Front Gate ) : Omotemon Gate is the first gate at Toshogu Shrine, as designated an Important Cultural
Property. It is also called Nio Gate because of the two guardian deity statues positioned in the left and right.

表門は東照宮の第一門であり、重要文化財に指定されている。左右に二体の守護神像が鎮座していることから、仁王門とも
呼ばれている。


Sacred Stable and Three Wise Monkeys 　三猿


There is a frieze of eight panels of carvings of monkeys running through the building, depicting the lives of
ordinary people. Monkeys have been regarded as guardians of horses since ancient times.
Carving of three monkeys, 'See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil', is particularly famous.

建物全体に8枚の猿の彫刻が施されたフリーズがあり、庶民の暮らしを描いています。猿は古来より馬の守護神と
されてきました。「見ざる、言わざる、聞かざる」の三猿の彫刻は特に有名です。


This is the very famous sculpture of 'The wise three monkeys, 'sees no evil, hears no evil, and speaks no evil'

Yomeimon Gate　陽明門


One of the most beautiful gates in Japan, Yomeimon Gate is said to have been given the name of 'Main Gate of
the Imperial Court'. It is also called 'Gate of the Setting Sun', because one could gaze upon it all day and never
tire. It is covered with over 500 carvings depicting traditional anecdotes, children playing, sages and wise men.


日本で最も美しい門の一つである陽明門は、「朝廷の正門」の名を与えられたと言われています。一日中眺めていても
飽きないことから、「夕陽の門」とも呼ばれています。500点を超える彫刻で覆われており、伝統的な逸話、遊ぶ子供たち、
賢者などを描いています。


(L) Sacred warehouse 経蔵 (R) Bell Tower 鐘楼

Bell Tower　鐘楼

(L) Omizuya (Water Purification Building)　御水舎　(R) A sourvenir photography of a group abroad



As an important cultural property, this facility is used to purify body and mind by washing hands of warshipers
and rinsing out mouth before worshiping the enshrined deity. The basin was dedicated in 1618 by Nabeshima
Katsushige, feudal lord Saga, Kyushu.

重要文化財であるこの御水舎は、御祭神を拝む前に手を洗い、口をすすぐことで心身を清めるために用いられています。
1618年に佐賀藩主鍋島勝重によって奉納されました。


(L) A decoration of Youmeimon　陽明門 (R) sleeping cat　眠り猫


A dozing while surrounded by peonies and bathed in sunlight by the master caver, Hidari Jungoro.
As designated a National Treasure, this carving of is also said to be a depiction of Nikko (Nikko means the sunlight).

牡丹の花に囲まれ、日光を浴びながらうたた寝をする名匠、左順五郎。国宝に指定されているこの彫刻は、
日光を描いたものでもあると言われています。


Karamon Gate, under repair construction

The entire Karamon Gate is painted with a white powder chalk. It features intricate carvings of Kyoyu and
Soho (legendary Chinese sages), an audience with the emperor, and other scenes.
The Main Shrine consists of the Honden (Main Hall), Ishinoma (Stone Chamber), and Haiden (Worship Hall).
It is the most important area at Toshogu Shrine. Annual festivals and events are conducted here.

唐門は全体に白胡粉で彩色され、教勇・僧宝（中国の伝説上の賢人）、天皇との拝謁の様子などが精緻に彫刻されています。
本殿は本殿、石の間、拝殿から構成されています。 東照宮で最も重要な場所であり、年間を通して祭礼や行事が行われます。



(L) Two sparrows are caved on the opposite side of the sleeping cat. (R) A stairway to Okugu 　奥宮

(L) A stairway to Okugu (R) The gate of Okugu

Okugu (Okusha)　奥宮（奥社）

The copper treasure tower of Okusha is the tomb of Ieyasu Tokugawa, and it seems that the remains are buried
under. 奥社の銅宝塔は徳川家康の墓所で遺骨が埋葬されている


(L)Cedars to hear your wishes　叶杉 (R) Cidar giant tree in Toshogu Shrine

(L) A guardian samurai 陽明門の随身（随神） (R) Rotary lantern 回転燈篭

A guardian dog　陽明門の狛犬

Nagasaka Fall along the side slope to Toshou-gu Shrine
In spring time, the amount of water increased because of snow-melting water.

　Nikko Toshougu Shrine, Lake Chuzenjiko and Mt. Hangetsu (decorated in autumn color):
　　　　　　　　　　　Picture was taken in 2017.
　Ueno Toshougu Shrine (Tokyo) 2019

Trains to Nikko and back to Tokyo JR・東武鉄道

To and from Nikko: A railway trip
The historic sites of Nikko are about 120 km north of central Tokyo, and getting there by train is easiest.
There are two train stations at Nikko: Tobu Nikko and JR Nikko.
The stations are only about 100 meters apart. However, the Tobu Railway route departing from Asakusa Station
is the quickest and the most popular.

JR East and Tobu Railway from Shinjuku:
JR East and Tobu Railway Specia train usually departs from the platform 6 of JR Shinjuku station, and
use JR tracks on part of their journey to Tobu Nikko Station. These services are called Specia-Nikko or
Specia-Kinugawa. They take about two hours to reach Tobu Nikko. The express train track enters to
Tobu railway line at Kurihashi station, and the railroad track branches off to the kinugawa line at Shimoimaichi station.

From JR Shinjuku Station:
Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains run to Utsunomiya Station, where a transfer is required to the JR Nikko Line
running to Nikko. The journey takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes.
There is another route to and from Ueno or Tokyo station to Utsunomiya, using Ueno-Tokyo line.


(L) JR: An express train Nikko #1 is to leave Shinjuku station. (R) Intrior of the Nikko #1 train. All seats are reserved.

(L) A train is passing the bridge over Tone River.

(L) As the train is approaching, we can see Nantaisan Mountain 男体山 ( Alt, 2,486M ) through the train window.

(L) A train is just arrived at Tobu-Nikko station 日光駅.
(R) The exterior of Mikko Tobu Specia express train ready to start from Tobu-Nikko station.

(L) A Specia-express train at Tobu-Nikko station (R) Guidance plate at Tobu-Nikko station 東武日光駅

(L) Many rail-fan are watching the steam locomotive turning at the turn-table. 転車台で回転する蒸気機関車
(R) Shimoimaich locomotive depot 下今市機関区

(L) A Specia-express train is arriving at Shimoimaich station下今市駅. (M) A corridor of the deluxe compartment train
(R) Interior of a private room of the compartment 東武鉄道特急個室

(L) Air-conditioning-system panel is provided at the private room. (M) Specia-express train arrived at JR Shinjuku station 新宿駅.
(R) The exterior of a compartment vehicle of Tobu-Specia train　東武鉄道


Nikko Lake-Chuzenji Autumn Tours and Mt. Hangetsu
秋の中禅寺湖と日光 2017

Hotel Shikisai, Nikko
Smoke-free Hotels in Japan
A summary of smoking-room rate studied in local hotels of Japan

H
Smoking Restriction at Hotels in the World: Actual Survey
The ratio of a smoking guest room to the total hotel rooms was calculated,
based on-the-spot investigation.


日光東照宮および東武鉄道
　執筆　医学博士　宮本順伯
★ This Web site is link-free.
This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The article was written in March 2018.
All photography was taken by Dr. Junhaku Miyamoto in March 2018.
Copyright (C) 2018 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.