Bono's Tokyo: Nikko Day Trip

Yeah, I took a day trip to Kamakura, but it isn't until you get out of Tokyo as far as Nikko (maybe the number 1 destination of people sightseeing outside the city). The reason being is because there is a saying that "living in Tokyo is not the same as living in Japan." Hence all the "Nikko is Nippon" posters that appear all over the city (Nippon - and Nihon for that matter - are other names for Japan).

And a perk to making that day trip is that when you're walking to Asakusa Station (Ah-Sock-oo-sa), you get to see the Asahi Brewing Company's corporate office (Notice how the building looks like a beer? Typical Japanese.).

Nikkō (literally sunlight) is a city located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Located approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and approximately 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists, housing the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikkō Tōshō-gū) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), as well as the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area. The mountains west of the city are part of Nikkō National Park and contain some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.

Here I am, fresh off the train, in front of the "city limits" sign.

As of May 1, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 93,568.

Shōdō Shōnin established the temple of Rinnō-ji in 782, followed by the temple of Chūzen-ji in 784. The village of Nikkō developed around these temples. The shrine of Nikkō Tōshō-gū was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during the Edo period. A number of new roads were built during this time to provide easier access to Nikkō from surrounding regions. Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine and Rinnō-ji now form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So the city itself is famous because it is home to the Toshugu Shrine Complex, the biggest collection of shrines in Japan.

It is also the site where the famous "Hear No, Speak No, See No Evil" monkeys originated. There are monkeys living in the nearby hillsides who will come down to interact with visitors in the Spring and Summer months.

The Japanese can't build a Torii Gate small enough that I can't fit under!

And, if you ever get lost, there are very helpful signs all over the Complex...

The sacred ring toss (I'm sure that's not its actual name). If you get one of 3 rings on the sacred pole (again, can't be the real name) you are supposed to have good luck for the year. I missed, but the girl in our group that made one slipped on the ice 5 minutes later...so I'm not buying it.

During the Meiji period Nikkō developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. The Japanese National Railways began service to Nikkō in 1890 with the Nikkō Line, followed by Tobu Railway in 1929 with its Nikkō Line.