Tochigi Nikko

　

Taiyuinn

March 22nd -23rd, I and my husband traveled to Nikko. Ｉｔ took only 2 hours from Shinjuku station in Tokyo by express train. Very fast!
We asked local tour in the afternoon. So till the time we visited Syouyouenn of Rinnouji temple and Taiyuin.
Taiyuinn is the mausoleum of the third Tokugawa shogunate, Iemitsu. Iemutsu is a grand son of Ieyasu who established Edo shogunate. He respected his grandfather very much and wished to serve for him even after his death. So Taiyuinn was built to face Toshogu where Ieyasu is enshrined as a deity.   The building is not ornate as Toshogu. But it has settled colors,  harmonious patterns of wood carvings with atmosphere of deepness. Refined beauty was there.

　We joined the tour "Go around Natural Park" in the afternoon.
The root was: Kanmangafuchi Abyss -> Kaizan-doh hall -> Shiraito no Taki (Shiraito waterfall) -> Takio Shrine -> Kirifuri no Taki (Kirifuri waterfall)

Kanmangafuchi Abyss

First Kanmangafuchi Abyss: The view of the gush of running water through eroded rocks in gorge was very refreshing. And as you walk down there were many Ksitigarbhas (bodhisattva who looks over children) in line. It is said those stone Ksitigarbhas are carved by disciple of Jigen Daishi. Jigen Daishi was a monk who enshrined Ieyasu as a deity in Nikko. Each Ksitigarbhas has a different face of those disciples. They are also called as 'ghost Jizo'. Each time you count them gives different number.

Second we visited Kaizandou: Kaizandou is a mausoleum of Joudou-shouninn who founded a temple in Nikko. The hall stood quietly in the forest. You can feel it is surrounded by holly air.

Shugendou

Kirifuri waterfall

　The road from Kaizandou to Takio Shrine was surrounded by cider trees. The mountain roads was covered by moss. We saw ”Shugendou”, people who practice the mountaineering asceticism near Shiraito waterfall.






In the end we visited Kirifuri waterfall.
It was just beautiful. The guide showed me the picture of the waterfall in spring and autumn time surrounded by colorful blossom or autumn leaves.

But I liked this view better...slightly pinkish buds with light green leaves, the mountain looked like impressionist painting with falling lines of water. The view had imperfect beauty with vital energy.
　

Toshogu

Second day we joined to the tour "Walking Nikko World heritage with local guide"
The root was: Sanbutsu-dou at Rinnoji Temple -> Futarasan Shrine -> Toshogu Shrine
Unfortunately Sanbutsu-dou was under construction. So it was not possible to see all Buddha statueｓ. There were two, but they were not in perfect shapes such as one hand missing or head is missing.
As you know Toshogu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu who established Edo, former Tokyo. To watch over Edo he enshrined himself in this location. Seeing this location from Edo, Polaris shine as the center of other stars. Polaris was thought the god of stars which dominate cosmic. Also Toshogu stood at the direction of  'demon's gate' from Edo. He thought himself becoming a guardian deity to protect Edo.

The mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu