Nikkō Tōshō-gū
日光東照宮 · Nikkō, Tochigi
Where Tokugawa Ieyasu rests: the dazzling Yōmeimon gate, the Sleeping Cat and the Three Wise Monkeys, hidden in a forest of towering cedars.
Know before you go
- Don't climb or touch the shrine carvings and stone lanterns
- photography is banned in many parts of the shrine interiors, so watch for signs
- don't run or push on the stone steps to the tomb
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Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Tokugawa Ieyasu, who rests here
Tōshō-gū was first built in 1617 under the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and expanded to its present scale under the third shogun, Iemitsu. Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate, is enshrined here and his remains are buried here too: through the cedar forest and up several hundred stone steps lies his tomb.
Source: Wikipedia: Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Legend
The Sleeping Cat and the Three Wise Monkeys
Tōshō-gū has a 'Sleeping Cat' carving said to be the work of the master craftsman Hidari Jingorō; the sacred stable bears three monkeys who 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil', derived from the Analects' 'look not at what is improper, listen not to what is improper, speak not what is improper'.
Source: Wikipedia: Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate. It was first built in 1617 under Ieyasu's son, the second shogun Hidetada, and greatly expanded under the third shogun, Iemitsu. Ieyasu's remains are buried here; hundreds of stone steps through the cedar forest lead to his tomb. Together with Futarasan Shrine and Rinnō-ji, Tōshō-gū makes up the 'Shrines and Temples of Nikkō' World Heritage Site.
Local customs
- Rinse your hands and mouth at the purification fountain before praying
- remove your shoes to enter the shrine buildings
- the Yōmeimon, the Sleeping Cat and the Three Wise Monkeys are the highlights
Religion & beliefs
A Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified Tokugawa Ieyasu (Tōshō Daigongen).
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Don't climb or touch the shrine carvings and stone lanterns
- photography is banned in many parts of the shrine interiors, so watch for signs
- don't run or push on the stone steps to the tomb
Locals appreciate DO
Locals appreciate visitors who slow down and study the carvings: the Yōmeimon has so many that it's called the 'Higurashi-mon', the gate you could gaze at all day without tiring.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Autumn leaves and the fresh green season |
|---|---|
| Time needed | Half a day |
Travel tips
- Nikkō is about two hours from Asakusa in Tokyo on the Tōbu Railway
- it's crowded in the autumn-leaves season, so try to arrive in the morning
- combine with Futarasan Shrine and Rinnō-ji on the same day
Photos
Photos
Jpatokal · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fg2 · Public domain
Sources & verification notes
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