Instawalk: A Day in Nikko, Japan

my parents first toured Japan 40 years ago and haven’t been back since, but wanted to revisit a place that left an impression on them — Nikko — now that they’re back (with me in tow). it’s a little over an hour and a half away from Tokyo via Shinkansen and local train (all covered by a JR Pass) and makes a good day or overnight trip, as i’ve discovered (we stayed overnight).

Outside Nikko JR station. For use in a blog post.

Outside Nikko’s JR Station. Up the road is the main square where the tourist circuit buses leave from. Further in that direction are the temples and shrines.

Nikko is known for its well-preserved shrines and temples and waterfalls, and we went to the main sights this morning (my parents went to some more waterfalls yesterday afternoon while i was working). you can get around town via two tourist circuit buses though we rented a car — which turned out to be serendipitous because we happened to come upon one of the three famous waterfalls (see below) while driving around before our train back to Tokyo.

sadly, many gates and even one entire temple were under wraps for refurbishment. the temple, Rinno-ji, is pretty much dismantled and encased by a factory-like metal shell. the good thing is that there are great views out over the town and canyon if you climb to the 7th floor of the shell to the viewing platform.

What I thought was a factory is the temple? pic.twitter.com/QiNsJTziac

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 6, 2014

They are basically rebuilding the temple. Under renovation until 2020. 7th fl (huff puff) observation deck pic.twitter.com/C8sTsp2GRb

— Jonathan Khoo (@jonk) October 6, 2014

but anyways, the pictures! i love my sacred sites and i love them even more in forest settings, which i discovered on my first trip to Japan when i went to Koyasan. there’s something so moving about the intricately gilded temples in the filtered sunlight, and being simultaneously so enveloped in nature and religiously significant buildings.