Nikko
I visited Nikko in Autumn of 2015. We took a short walk into town and saw the Kegon falls that drop 96m into a gorge. You can see that solid granite that is about 60m down from the top cover for a set of springs which gush out around the base of the waterfall.
Temples and shrine areas of Nikko.
Toshogu Shrine: The Toshogu Shrine was built to enshrine the 1st Shogun in 1617. It was extended by his grandson the 3rd shogun and parts of which are undergoing renovation. However the carvings, gilding, and colors were all phenomenal. We got an audio guide and that really helped understand what the historic significance was of what we saw. We spent well over an hour looking at the temple buildings and hiking up to where he was buried.
Rinnou-ji temple: The Rinnou-ji temple was going through extensive renovation, I mean tear it down to the foundation and rebuild it. It was originally built in 766 and the renovation became critical after one end collapsed due to wood rot. They had built a building around the main temple building including a 10 ton overhead crane. They looked to be about 1/2 way done with the work replacing rotten and bug damaged wood sections. They had displays on what the progress had been and the extent of the damage when they started in 2009. They are scheduled to be complete in 2020. They were also repairing the gilded wood Buddha’s and other artifacts, and we were able to see the conservators at work.
Shinkyo Sacred bridge: The Shinkyo Sacred bridge was built to commemorate 2 snakes helping a wise man across the river.
Read MoreTemples and shrine areas of Nikko.
Toshogu Shrine: The Toshogu Shrine was built to enshrine the 1st Shogun in 1617. It was extended by his grandson the 3rd shogun and parts of which are undergoing renovation. However the carvings, gilding, and colors were all phenomenal. We got an audio guide and that really helped understand what the historic significance was of what we saw. We spent well over an hour looking at the temple buildings and hiking up to where he was buried.
Rinnou-ji temple: The Rinnou-ji temple was going through extensive renovation, I mean tear it down to the foundation and rebuild it. It was originally built in 766 and the renovation became critical after one end collapsed due to wood rot. They had built a building around the main temple building including a 10 ton overhead crane. They looked to be about 1/2 way done with the work replacing rotten and bug damaged wood sections. They had displays on what the progress had been and the extent of the damage when they started in 2009. They are scheduled to be complete in 2020. They were also repairing the gilded wood Buddha’s and other artifacts, and we were able to see the conservators at work.
Shinkyo Sacred bridge: The Shinkyo Sacred bridge was built to commemorate 2 snakes helping a wise man across the river.
