Marimari.com : Japan - north of Japan, Nikko

With its many impressive shrines and temples, Nikko is one of Japan's major tourist attractions, as well as one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo. Nikko is also part of the Nikko National Park, which covers Fukushima, Tochigi, Gunma, and Niigata prefectures. The park is a mountainous area complete with extinct volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, and marshlands.

Along with Tokyo and Kyoto, Nikko does have a few budget accommodations. It also has clean and reasonably priced pensions. Nikko is a very popular place, so it is often better to book in advance.

The best way to get to Nikko is through the Tobu-Nikko line from Asakusa station in Tokyo. Reservation is required and trains run every 30 minutes or so from 7:30 to 10 a.m. They run hourly after that.

Tosho-gu Shrine - Nikko itself has been known as a sacred site since the 8th Century when the Buddhist priest, Shodo Shonin, established a hermitage there. Nikko then went on to become a famous Buddhist monks' training center until it was chosen as the place for the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the warlord whose shogunate (military government) had ruled all of Japan for 250 years. The shrine, which was completed by his grandson, Tokugawa Iemitsu, was built by a huge army of over 15,000 artisans from all over Japan. Indeed, the Tosho-gu Shrine is a grand creation intended to display the wealth and power of a family who was once the supreme arbiter in Japan.

Taiyuin-byo Shrine - Iemitsu is consecrated at the Taiyuin-byo Shrine, which is very much smaller and less fanciful than the Tosho-gu Shrine. Many of the highlights shown in the bigger shrine are duplicated on a smaller scale in the Taiyuin-byo Shrine. The shrine also has a wonderful setting in a quiet grove of cryptomeria.

Rinno-ji Temple - It was Shodo Shonin who founded the Rinno-ji Temple, an original Tendai sect temple, 1200 years ago. Huge gold-lacquered images frame the Three Buddha Hall or Sambutsu-do, with the "senju" (1000 armed Kannon) as the most magnificent. In the center of the hall stands "Amida Nyorai" alongside "bato" whose specialty is the animal kingdom. Also on the temple grounds is the Homutsu-den or the Treasure Hall, which has a collection of treasures associated with the temple. However, do take note that entrance fees are separate for the temple and hall.

Futara-san-jinja Shrine - Shodo also founded the Futara-san-jinja Shrine, which is dedicated to the mountain Nantai, its consort Nyotai, and their mountainous offspring Taro. There is also another Futara-san-jinja Shrine in the Tosho-gu Shrine area.

Lake Chuzenji-ko - Mainly a scenic attraction, this lake comprises the 97m Kegon Waterfall, which features an elevator down to a platform where the full force of plunging waters can be observed. The third Futara-san-jinja Shrine is also located here. The lake reaches a depth of 161m and is a spectacular shade of deep blue in good weather conditions. The beauty of the lake together with the mountainous backdrop makes for a pleasant cruise around the lake. There are buses from the Nikko station area that will bring you to Chuzenji Onsen.