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Never Say You're Content Until You've Seen Nikko

© Lance Lindley

Never say you're content until you've seen Nikko, Japan.

Thus goes an ancient Japanese saying, meaning that once you have seen the beauty of this historic city, you have seen the best that Japan has to offer.

While different cities and prefectures might argue otherwise, certainly Nikko and surrounding Tochigi Prefecture have more than their share of natural beauty and historical landmarks.

The glory of Nikko is twofold. It enjoys a world-wide reputation for harmonizing human artistry with nature because of such architectural wonders as the Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple and Futarasan Shrine, placed in a natural setting of rivers and lakes.

It is also blessed with magnificent mountain scenery, including Nikko National Park, numerous hot springs, Lake Chuzenji and the 100-meter-high Kegon Falls.

So, it is said that harmony abounds in Nikko. Not only do architecture and nature live side-by-side here, but so do Japan's two major ancient religions: Buddhism and Shinto. The Toshogu Shrine of the deified shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu stands near the Buddhist Rinnoji Temple, established in 766 by the priest Shodo. Even within the Rinnoji Temple itself, three Buddhas - Senjukannon, Amidanyori and Batokannon - witness a native form of mountain worship called gohanshiki every April.

Nikko is also home to Edo Mura, the Edo Era (1600-1868) Village Theme Park which showcases martial arts performances by ninja, ronin (wandering samurai), and a play demostrating the Edo Era justice system. In addition there are numerous cultural exhibits and 3-D movies about various historical events.

Nikko hosts approximately seven million visitors per year, nearly 350 times its resident population (20,128).

Tochigi Prefecture is northeast of Tokyo, forming the northern tip of a diamond with Tokyo at its southern point, and Gunma and Ibaraki Prefectures at its west and east points respectively. Tochigi Prefecture is also home to Mashiko, a city famous for its handmade pottery. Tochigi Prefecture is accessible from the Tokyo-Yokohama area by car or train.

Toshogu Shrine, Nikko, Japan

The magnificent Toshogu Shrine (meaning "East Illuminating Shrine") was founded to honor the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japan's most powerful -- and perhaps most famous -- leader. When his remains were moved to the shrine in 1616 from their temporary burial place in Shizuoka by his son Hidetada, the shrine was not as gorgeous and elaborate as it is today.

The shrine was completed between 1634 and 1636, under the reign of Ieyasu's grandson, Iemitsu, the Third Tokugawa Shogun. It took Japan's leading craftsmen and artists nearly twelve and a half years to build, and cost an estimated 200 billion yen by today's valuation.

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