 |
Nikko is reputed to be one of the most beautiful towns in Japan. It is also the burial place
of Tokugawa Iieyasu, One of Japan's national heroes and the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate |
|
 |
Andy in front of a Torii at Toshogu Shrine |
 |
The sleeping cat made by the famous japanese artist Hidari the left handed. Hidari means "left"
in japanese. |
|
 |
The famous "hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil" monkeys. |
 |
The remains of Tokugawa Iieyasu are enshrined in the large metal bell |
|
 |
A wedding hall in the Toshugo Shrine, which is still used today. |
 |
|
|
 |
It was awkward to see people working on the roof of a sacred temple. |
 |
The five story pagoda outside of Toshugo Shrine. The five levels represent the five elements-from
the bottom level the order is earth, fire, wind, water, heart...your powers combined, I am captain Planet! |
|
 |
No, wait. The actual elements are earth,water, fire, wind, and metal according to the chinese. |
 |
Just some of the scenery which makes Nikko famous as one of the most picturesque country
towns in Japan |
|
 |
|
 |
This is Taka. Taka is a Japanese fisherman in Nikko, searching the riverbed for bait |
|
 |
And look! He found some and is so happy he wants to wave to us |
 |
The stone garden, filled with statues of Jizo, guardian buddha of children. Legend has it
that you can not count the same number of Jizo's twice. We saw about 70. |
|
 |
Some of the Jizo's are wearing bibs. The bibs mean a baby was either aborted or died, and the grieving
mother put the bib on Jizo so he would help guide the child into the next life. |
 |
|
|
 |
A really neat waterfall we saw on our way through the stone garden |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
Dainichi Bridge |
|
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)