In the morning, you will meet your guide at the reception. Then, you will have a two-hour drive to the Nikko National Park – a place that, as its name suggests in Japanese,
means sunshine. Since the temple with the great Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb was built here in the 17th century, Nikko has been synonymous with splendor and grace.
The red Shinkyo Bridge, which could only be crossed by representatives of the Shogun or Emperor, was constructed on the spot where the founder of Nillo's first temple, the Buddhist monk Shodo, crossed a stormy mountain stream on the backs of two giant snakes. At least, this is what the local legend says.
The famous Hall of Three Buddhas in the Rinnoji Temple has a unique composition of three statues: Buddha Amida, the Goddess of Mercy Kannon, and the thousand-armed Kannon. Just behind the temple, there is a classic Japanese Shoyo-en landscape garden. Nearby is the sacred stable with a world-famous bas-relief of three wise monkeys, whose poses say: "I see no evil, I hear no evil, I speak no evil."
The Great Hall of the main shrine, Honden, contains the deified spirits of the three great shoguns of Japan: Ieyasu Tokugawa, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and Yoritomo Minamoto. Those who wish to worship it can climb 200 stone steps to the bronze Hodo Pagoda, where Ieyasu's ashes are buried. Climbing along the mountain track, you will see the cascade of Kagon waterfalls.
After the excursion, you will get back to your hotel.
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