Nikkō Tōshō-gū

Nikko Tosho-gu (Japanese日光 东 照 宫) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture in Japan. It is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa dynasty, and was built in 1617, Ieyasu's son Hidetada as Shogun was. He was removed from the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, including the main building of the shrine today. He was appointed by UNESCO with other shrines and temples in Nikko World Heritage Site in 1999. Ieyasu is revered in Nikko Tosho-gu, and his remains are entombed here. The shrine is the most famous of all Tōshō - gū in Japan.

During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate government processions from Edo hosted by Nikko Tosho-gu. The annual Spring Festival ( May 17 and 18, and 1951 on 1 and 2 June) and Fall Festival ( October 17 ) these events are simulated and are known as the procession of a thousand warriors ( Sennin - Gyoretsu ).

Eight buildings of the shrine and two swords that are the property of the shrine are, are national treasures of Japan, including the main hall ( dogs ), the Stone Hall ( Ishi -no- ma), the worship hall ( haiden ) and the tower - passage (阳明 门, Yomei - mon, "Gate of the sun " ), built in the year 1636th

Hundreds of stone steps escort by a Japanese cedar forest up to the grave Ieyasu in the inner district ( Okunoin ) of the shrine. A torii at the top of the tip has ornaments, which are ascribed to Emperor Go - Mizunoo. The remains of Ieyasu are in a bronze urn, outdoor and private small shrine, the Okusha Hoto (奥 社 宝塔) secures. This was originally a pagoda built in 1622 from wood, was then replaced in 1641 by a new model of stone and rebuilt after an earthquake in 1683 of bronze, provided with special structures to prevent the ingress of water.

Particularly impressive are those of the daimyo Matsudaira Masatsuna ( he had served under the first three Tokugawa shoguns ) over 300 years ago for the 32nd anniversary of the death of Ieyasu in a period of over 20 years planted cedars on the way to Nikko, of which there are currently still several thousand are.

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Close-up view of the decorations on the Yomei - mon

The Holy Stable

The famous carving of the three monkeys on the facade of the holy horse stable

Karamon, behind Haiden and Honden

Ornaments on Karamon

The innermost Torii is made of metal

The shrine Okusha Hoto with the urn with Ieyasu's remains