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1Toshogu Shrine
The mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the reason most people come. Pass the five-storey pagoda, find the three wise monkeys on the sacred stable, then stand under the Yomeimon — the “gate you could look at until sunset”. Beyond the sleeping-cat carving, 207 stone steps climb through the cedars to Ieyasu’s tomb.
ℹ️ Open about 9:00–17:00 (to 16:00 Nov–Mar); admission around ¥1,600. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
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2Shinkyo Bridge
The red-lacquered “sacred bridge” arches over the Daiya River at the entrance to the shrine area. Legend says two snakes formed a bridge here for Shodo Shonin. It is most photogenic from the road bridge alongside, which is free.
ℹ️ Viewable at any time for free; a small fee (around ¥300) to walk on the bridge itself. 10 minutes.
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3Rinno-ji and Taiyuin
Rinno-ji is Nikko’s great Buddhist temple; its Sanbutsudo hall holds three gilded statues about 7.5 metres tall. Ten minutes’ walk away, Taiyuin is the mausoleum of Iemitsu — deliberately more restrained than his grandfather’s shrine, in black, gold and red, and far less crowded.
ℹ️ Both about 8:00–17:00 (to 16:00 in winter); separate or combined tickets, roughly ¥400–1,000. Allow 1–1.5 hours for both.
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4Kanmangafuchi Abyss
A short gorge of lava rock carved by the Daiya River, with a line of about 70 stone Jizo statues in red caps and bibs along the path. They are nicknamed the “ghost Jizo” because, it is said, you never count the same number twice.
ℹ️ Always open, free. 20–25 minutes’ walk from Shinkyo; allow 45 minutes.
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5Futarasan Shrine
Founded in 767 and dedicated to the spirits of Nikko’s three sacred mountains, this is the oldest of the precinct’s shrines and the calmest. Its grounds have a sacred spring and old cedars said to bring good marriages.
ℹ️ Grounds free; small fee (around ¥300) for the inner garden. 20–30 minutes.
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6Tamozawa Imperial Villa
A 106-room residence assembled in 1899 for the future Emperor Taisho, mixing Edo, Meiji and Taisho-era architecture. One of the largest surviving wooden buildings in Japan, with a fine garden.
ℹ️ About 9:00–17:00 (shorter in winter), closed Tuesdays; admission around ¥600. Allow 1 hour.
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7Nikko Cedar Avenue
Some 12,000 cedars planted in the 17th century line about 35 km of the old roads to Nikko — recognised as the world’s longest tree-lined avenue. The easiest section to walk is near Imaichi, one stop before Nikko.
ℹ️ Free, always open. Best reached from Kami-Imaichi or Shimo-Imaichi station; 30–60 minutes.
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8Kirifuri Falls
A two-tier waterfall in the hills north-east of town, viewed from an observation deck a short walk from the bus stop — especially good in autumn.
ℹ️ Free. About 10 minutes by bus from Nikko station (limited services); allow 45 minutes.
A good order to see them
Start at Shinkyo, climb the steps to Rinno-ji, continue to Toshogu, then Futarasan and Taiyuin, which sit side by side. From there it is 15 minutes downhill to Tamozawa Villa and another 10 to Kanmangafuchi. Buses return to the stations from Tamozawa.
