Just two hours north of Tokyo lies the city of Nikko, home of the Tōshō-gū Shrine, a registered World Heritage site. The quickest way to get there is by Shinkansen, the Japanese bullet train. It was our first ride on it, and yes it’s really fast (seemed like 200+ mph)🚅😱😳.
The city and shrine grounds did not disappoint, whether it was a five-story pagoda, beautiful artistic structures, or mossy stairways. The enormously large cedar trees lining the shrines and walkways were just stunning. The thought of this temple complex existing in this beautiful area 400 years ago is amazing.
Seen here, the inspiration for the “see no evil” ideology as depicted by monkeys. 🙈🙉🙊
Some of the grounds were being restored by Conservation Architects, painstakingly painting and protecting tiny portions of buildings bit by bit.
Just outside the shrine in Nikko itself lies the picturesque Shinkyo bridge often associated with Japanese architecture.
Nikko is also home to yuba, a product of the tofu-making process. We got these delicious yuba pastry treats only found here in Nikko.
Heading back to Tokyo via Nikko Station, a station which is both eerie and charming designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, we took a quick spin around Senjo-ji Temple at night.
Old meets new. Past and present. Japan.
That is so overwhelming to see beauty in a shrine and its surroundings, then to get on the fastest train what a ride. Bet that Yuba pastry taste good. The Station designed by the architect that your Uncle Raymond admires is something to see. The new and old I tend to love the old something about it that can never be replaced. Enjoy love ya both God bless
Beautiful Pictures