Tokyo Cultural Experience by IJCEE

Tour itinerary

Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for about 260 years from the beginning of the 17th century was the world longest, successful government having Edo(then the biggest city in the world with 1 million population) as its capital.
Toshogu was built in 1617 to dedicate to the founder of the shogunate, the first shogun Ieyasu. The shogunate spent a huge amount of money for the reconstruction of Toshogu in 1636. Top artists and first-rank craftsmen were summoned from all over the country and they created a high quality art with their best performance. You can see their pride in the details of the carvings, metal works, paintings and others.
Please enjoy the beauty of wooden structures which are different from that of Western brick palaces of the same period.
A certified English speaking guide, a local of Nikko will introduce you the charms of Toshogu through interesting stories about the history and religions of Nikko, the birth of the shrine, the effort of maintenance and others.

Taiyuin Mausoleum

The 3rd shogun, Iemitsu died in 1651 and he was buried in the hill near Toshogu Shrine where his revered grandfather, the First Shogun Ieyasu sleeps.
The 3rd shogun's mausoleum, Taiyuin was completed in 1653 on a steep hill next to his grave.
Compared to Toshogu, the size and the design are moderate to show the 3rd shogun's respect to his grandfather, but the techniques in the details are said to be surpassing those of Toshogu Shrine.
The main hall is called "the golden hall", because both its interior and exterior are covered with gold and on a sunny day, the contrast between the sun shining hall and the surrounding green cryptomeria trees is breathtakingly beautiful.
Since not very many people visit here, the atmosphere is quiet and the scenery of moss covered garden from the stone veranda on the way to the main building is popular as the world of "Wabi" and "Sabi" (Japanese senses of beauty that mean "refined rusticity" and "elegant simplicity").
http://www.nikko-jp.org/perfect/taiyuin/index.html
http://www.nikko-jp.org/english/taiyuin/index.html

Toshogu Museum of Art

The museum is located next to Toshogu Shrine and you can find it at the end of a narrow path that goes north from the square in front of the five storied pagoda.
The building was built about 80 years ago as the shrine office of Toshogu.
The office had been famous with the Japanese paintings on cedar doors and paper doors by the leading Japanese artists in those days and 10 years ago it was opened as an art museum after the construction of the new shrine office.
The building is a prestigious and traditional Japanese style with Karahahu (cusped gable) entrance, bamboo blinds, tatami floors, sliding paper doors and cedar doors.
The building itself is worth seeing because they used the finest wooden materials taken from the trees of “Nikko Cedar-lined Avenue” which were blown-over by a typhoon.
Even when Toshogu is very busy with lots of people, you can find only a few visitors in the museum. So you can enjoy a relaxing time in the traditional Japanese atmosphere.

Toshougu Treasure House

The treasure house is on the way from Toshogu to Taiyuin.
there are many interesting exhibits, such as the first shogun's armor, swords, palanquin, his collection of imported goods, a miniature model of Toshogu Shrine, original portable shrines, old garments and instruments used at the big festivals of Toshogu and Taiyuin , the process of coloring and lacquering of Toshogu Shrine.
You can feel close to the first shogun and can get lots of information of him.

Sanbutsudo Hall of Rinnoji Temple

Until Toshogu was built, Sanbutsudo had been the most important building of Nikko.
It houses three big golden Buddhist statues, the manifestations of three mountain gods.
The current building was built by the order of the third shogun who constructed today’s Toshogu Shrine.

Inquiry

E-mail: uzuka777@bc9.jp / Phone: 090-2166-4347 (Uzuka)

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Nikko the world heritage

Toshogu Shrine and around

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