Nikko Things to Do

Kegon Falls is what most people who venture out of Nikko come to see, and it is truly an impressive sight to behold.

You can view it from the top for free, or take the elevator/lift to the lower observation deck for about 800 yen. Unfortunatly, there is no way to walk down and so have the same view for free.

And don't feed the monkeys!

The Sacred Bridge or Snake Bridge (Shinkyo) was built in the year 1636 and leads over the Daiya river. This is a brightly colour red lacquered bridge, 28 metres long and 7 metres wide.

According to an ancient legend, Shodo-shonin crossed this bridge in the Nara period protected by the virtues of Jinjyao. The effect of the redness of the bridge and the lush green of the background is lovely.

Not a succes for me. This bridge was one of the reasons for me to go to Nikko. When we arrived it was being refurbished. We couldn't even get a glimpse of the bridge.

The Shinkyo-bridge crosses the Daiyagwa. Originally only to be enterred by the shogun or the royal messengers. It was here that Shodo the priest crossed the river with the help of two giant snakes in his effort to reach the top of Nantai-yama.

These days everbody willing to pay is allowed to cross the bridge. (open 09:00-16:00hrs).

The Toshogu shrine was started by Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1634. It's an area filled with religieus buildings. Such as the Nio-mon (gate), Torii, Yomei-mon and pagoda.

It's a very beautiful place to visit and can be done in one day when you're in Tokyo. If you want to see more than the shrine area, for example lake Chuzenji en Kegon-waterfall you'll need more than just one day.

The best way to visit the shrine and other parts of the area is to buy a voucher near the Rinnoji-temple at the right side of Ote-dori(street).

All the sights of Nikko are within relatively easy reach of each other. An English-speaking guide can give so much more information than a guidebook can. Buying a ticket that gives you access to most of the sights, as recommended by the guidebooks, is well worth it. I was there in the rainy season, and even on a grey day with steady rain, Nikko is still stunning.

This is a must-see in Nikko. Tokugawa Iemitsu set out to impress everyone with this mausoleum-shrine. For two years, some 15,000 artisans from all over Japan worked, builded, craved, painted and lacquered to create this flowery, gorgeous Momoyama-style shrine.

This photo shows the Granite torri - entrance to the shrine.

Irohazaka - 48 hairpin bends - also known as Coloured Leaves slope. There are two routes for this delightful drive. Going up this zigzag road there are 20 hairpin curves of which each of which has a name like 'I' 'RO' 'HA' (A,B,C in the Japanese alphabet ,called hiragana) , which consists of 48 characters.

On the way up the 11.5kms to the top, you will see some breathtaking mountain scenery. You may also see some monkeys which have increased in recent years and are unafraid of humans as they view them as an easy me. There are signs everywhere to advise people not to feed them as they have been known to become aggressive and mug children especially carrying food. Driving down the mountain you go through the rest of the Japanese alphabet and incur 28 hairpin curves.
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Kegon Falls is said to be the most spectacular waterfall in Japan with a 97-metre straight vertical drop from Lake Chuzhen to the rocks below. As well as being one of the most photographed sites in Japan, Kegon is also well known for suicides with as many as 1,600 people having jumped from its summit during the past 100 years. People who have taken photos in the past have said they find spectral images of faces belonging to some of these 1,600 people.

The falls were formed when the Daiva River was rerouted by lava flows. 12 small waterfalls are situated behind and to the side of Kegon Falls.
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