Around Tokyo | Yōmei-mon - www.zzdtravel.com

Home

/

/

Asia

/

Japan

/

/

Yōmei-mon

zzdtravel

分享 X Twitter Yahoo Mail LinkedIn Facebook Amazon Wish List Reddit Telegram Sina Weibo

May 19, 2024

　　Adorned in gold leaf and some 500 carved images depicting folk tales, mythical beasts and Chinese sages, the 'Sunset Gate' is the most revered traditional gate in Japan and a sight to behold. Worrying that its perfection might arouse envy in the gods, those responsible for the gate's construction had the final supporting pillar installed upside down as a deliberate error.

Previous Article：Taiyū-in Next Article：Rinnō-ji

Must-see attractions

Kanman-ga-Fuchi Abyss

　　Along this particularly scenic stretch of the Daiya-gawa, where white rapids swirl around rocks, is a row of Jizō statues, the small stone effigies of the Buddhist protector of travellers and children. There were once 100, though many were damaged in a flood a century back, and remain in various...

　　Just to the left of the entrance to Futarasan-jinja is a 1km wooded path leading to Takinō-jinja, part of the greater shrine precinct. Just in front is the stone gate, Undameshi-no-torii. Before passing though, it's tradition to try your luck tossing three stones through the small hole near the top....

Nikkō Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park

　　About 1km west of Shin-kyō bridge, this splendidly restored imperial palace (c 1899) of more than 100 rooms showcases superb artisanship, with parts of the complex dating from the Edo, Meiji and Taishō eras. Apart from the construction skills involved there are brilliantly detailed screen paintings and serene garden views...

　　Adorned in gold leaf and some 500 carved images depicting folk tales, mythical beasts and Chinese sages, the 'Sunset Gate' is the most revered traditional gate in Japan and a sight to behold. Worrying that its perfection might arouse envy in the gods, those responsible for the gate's construction had...

Futarasan-jinja

　　Futarasan-jinja was founded over 1200 years ago as a place to worship the mountain Nantai-san (2484m), his mountain consort, Nyohō-san (2483m), and their mountainous progeny, Tarō-san (2368m). The current main hall dates to 1619, making it the oldest major structure in Nikkō. Though painted vermilion and with a sloping roof...

　　Rinnō-ji's grand main hall, Sanbutsu-dō ('Hall of Three Buddhas'), was first built in 848; the current structure dates to 1645 and, with restoration work just completed in spring 2021, is now a brilliant shade of vermilion. Inside are a trio of gilded wooden statues, 8m-tall and seated on lotus pedestals....

　　Taiyū-in, completed in 1653, is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604–51), the third Tokugawa shogun and grandson of Ieyasu. (Ieyasu was deified, which earned him a shrine; Iemitsu was given an 'ordinary' temple burial). It has many of the same features as Tōshō-gū: monumental gates, elaborate woodcarvings, lacquer and gold...

　　Tōshō-gū is Nikkō's biggest attraction, a shrine to the powerful shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616). No expense was spared: when the original structure (completed in 1617) was deemed unsuitably grand, Ieyasu's grandson had it renovated two decades later, calling on the most celebrated artists of the day to work on the...

Related Information Recommendations

Foto Friday: The Royal Tenenbaums

The 5 Things We Love About Our New iPad App

Foto Friday: Into Africa

New on Oyster: California Wine Country

Travel News Tuesday: What’s New?

Your Monday Morning Ahhhh…

In the Spotlight: Hotel Helix; Washington, D.C.

In the Spotlight: Hotel Plaza Athenee; Paris, France

About

Terms and Conditions Privacy policy Cookie Settings

Services

Login register contact us

zzdtravel Travel Travel Story Cruise Attractions

Copyright 2023-2024 - www.zzdtravel.com All Rights Reserved