Holiday in Nikko

What makes Nikko special as a destination?

Nikko, nestled in the densely forested mountains north of Tokyo, is one of Japan's most opulent sacred sites and a UNESCO World Heritage site of overwhelming splendor. While most Japanese temples and shrines are characterized by simple elegance, Nikko opts for baroque bursts of color, gilded carvings, and an abundance of intricate details. The Toshogu Shrine, built as a mausoleum for Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, is the masterpiece: Over 15,000 artists and craftsmen worked for two years on the richly decorated buildings, covered in gold, lacquer, and more than 5,000 carvings. Here you can find the famous Three Wise Monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil) and the Sleeping Cat (Nemuri-Neko) — two of Japan's most well-known symbols. The nearby Rinnoji Temple and Futarasan Shrine complement the sacred ensemble, connected by an awe-inspiring avenue of over 200-year-old cedar trees. But Nikko offers much more than temples: Lake Chuzenji at 1,269 meters above sea level, surrounded by colorful autumn foliage (October is the best time), the thundering Kegon Falls with a drop of 97 meters, and the sulfurous hot springs of Yumoto make Nikko a natural paradise as well. The Kanmangafuchi stone Buddha path, with moss-covered Jizo statues along a river, is one of the most atmospheric places in the region. From Tokyo, Nikko is reachable in under two hours by train — a day trip not to be missed.