Nikko Toshogu Shrine

A designated World Heritage Site, Nikko Toshogu Shrine is as beautiful as it is historically significant. Comprising 55 separate buildings, this complex of impressive carvings, history, and culture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The history of the Nikko Toshogu Shrine is impressive. The site was originally smaller and built specifically as the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years. In the late 1600s, Tokugawa Ieyasu’s grandson enlarged the shrine to include all the buildings you see today. The expansion came at an impressively large cost, yet was accomplished within only a short space of time.
When you step into the Nikko Toshogu Shrine complex, you will instantly see the complexity and detail of the carvings and buildings. The detail to attention and grandness of the architecture is sure to wow any visitor. The shrine has both Shinto and Buddhist elements, which is now rarely seen in Japan. Some years after the shrine’s construction, the two religions were separated in Japanese culture. Nikko Toshogu Shrine is one of the few exceptions that incorporates both, giving it a unique look and a place of worship for both religions. For anyone visiting the area, Nikko Toshogu Shrine is like nothing else.