Toshogu Shrine - Nikko

The Toshogu Shrine in Nikko is a very popular tourist attraction for both Japanese and foreigners alike. It is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years.

The shrine consists of more than a dozen buildings located in a beautiful forest outside the main city. The design and complexity of the shrine’s decorations are unique, and a marked contrast to the typically simple and understated shrines in Japan. The architectural design of this shrine spread to other locations such as the Nezu Shrine in Tokyo or the Toshogu Shrine of Ueno.

For those who are adventurous and don’t mind climbing some stairs, you can follow the path to the tomb of Ieyasu. There you will find Nemurineko, a famous carving of a sleeping cat. While the tomb isn’t as spectacular as the shrine, the surrounding forest gives the tomb an eerie mystic feeling, making it worth your walk to get there.