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Showing 1-25 of 47 results
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The Grave of a Great Shogun
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 15 November 2011
If you visit Nikko, you must visit the Tōshōgū Shrine. And if you visit the Tōshōgū Shrine, you should visit the grave of one of the most important figures from the history of Japan, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Granted, the grave by itself is not very impressive, but the path to the grave, through a forest of Sugi 「杉」 (Japanese cedars), is truly beautiful.
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Nikko's Famous Yakitori Shop - Hippari Dako
Blog: Living the Dream: RTW - 17 September 2011
There are many dishes iconic of Japan that I've tried and are worthy of their reputation. Takoyaki (octopus dumplings), okonomiyaki (fried "whatever-you-want" pancakes), sushi, gyoza, ramen, and more; its all good and the list is endless. There is one in particular, however, that isn't
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My Onsen Experience - Bathing With 20 Japanese Men
Blog: Living the Dream: RTW - 1 September 2011
The Japanese onsen is something reported by many travel sites as a cant miss experience. Many of the more popular spas, powered by incredibly hot spring water, are located in the mountaneous regions of the country. Because of this they are highly regarded not just for their therapuetic values, but for the
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A Japan Photo per Day - The story of the Sleeping Neko
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 20 June 2011
In Nikko, at the entrance to the Okusha Inner Shrine, the tomb of Ieyasu Tokugawa from the Toshougu Shrine, you’ll find a small sculpture designated as national treasure.
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A Japan Photo per Day - 400 years old Japanese Cedars in Nikko
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 13 June 2011
Almost 400 years ago, Matsudaira Masatsuna, a daimyo serving the Tokugawa Shogun, started a project that took him 20 years: he planted in Nikko over 200000 Sugi 「杉」 - Japanese cedars - trees donated afterwards to the Toshougu Shrine.
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A Japan Photo per Day - Rinno-ji Temple Sanbutsudo Hall
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 31 May 2011
The most important building of the Rinno-ji Temple from Nikko is the Sanbutsudo 「三仏堂」, “Three Buddha” Hall. Its name comes from the three giant sculptures of Buddha enshrined inside: Amida Nyorai, Senju-Kannon (Kannon with a thousand arms) and Bato-Kannon (Kannon with a horse head).
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A Japan Photo per Day - Japanese superlatives, Shinkyo Bridge
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 20 May 2011
About Shinkyo 「神橋」, the sacred bridge from Futarasan, there is a beautiful old Japanese legend telling the story of its origins. The first bridge was built here in 766 and it is unknown how it looked like, it was probably a suspended bridge.
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Annual Shrines and Temples Cleanup in Nikko
Blog: Budget Trouble - 24 April 2011
The annual cleanup was held a week earlier this year, not sure why. Maybe so the temple grounds could look all sparkling and beautiful for Golden Week? Possibly. Whatever the reason, we were there with our work gloves on, flipping stones and picking up dirt. Oh, the things we do for Nikko! The sacrifice of getting at an ungodly hour on a Sunday - the only day when I can sleep in. But I didn't sleep in today. Today, like all the other good worker bees, we headed for the Shrines and Temples complex in Nikko to do our part and clean the damn thing.
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Empty Nikko
Blog: Budget Trouble - 16 April 2011
We didn't plan to visit the temple complex today. With the Yayoi festival canceled this year (or rather - with only the ritual part of the festival performed behind closed doors) there was no reason for us to schlep all the way up there. But we did anyway. And we got stuck in a massive traffic jam on route 119. The reason for that? A huge fire that destroyed four houses along the street. Gone is one coffee shop, one soba shop and I don't remember what else was there.
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A Japan Photo per Day - Old Japanese stories, Futarasan Ghost Lantern
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 29 March 2011
A copper lantern from the Futarasan Shrine in Nikko has the odd name of Bake-doro, the Ghost Lantern. And of course, there’s an interesting story about it… It is said that in the old times, the samurai standing guard next to this lantern were often startled by the strange behavior of the flame. Many of them believed there was a ghost nearby, so they were… attacking the lantern! Some of them went so far that the lantern has visible scars…
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A Japan Photo per Day - Japanese Earthquake Resistant History at Nikko
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 14 March 2011
The first recorded earthquake in the history of Japan was the Hakuko Nankai earthquake, in the year 684, with an estimated magnitude of 8.0–8.4. Having to face frequent powerful earthquakes, the Japanese researched and experimented various techniques to build earthquake resistant constructions. One of the results was the pagoda seismic design described yesterday.
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A Japan Photo per Day - Toshougu Tourist Crowd, Travel Photo Tip
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 20 February 2011
The Toshougu Shrine from Nikko is one of the most crowded tourist attractions I have seen in Japan, so I have a small tip for you: if you plan to take photos, go there as early as possible. Since the shrine opens at 8AM, if you come from Tokyo, the first Spacia limited express train arrives at Nikko at 9:16. It leaves Asakusa Tobu Station at 7:30, and, even if it’s quite early in the morning, I suggest you to take it, because when the tourist buses start to arrive, the place will look like this:
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A Japan Photo per Day - Sanmon Gate
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 13 January 2011
The most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple is the Sanmon Gate - Sangedatsumon, the “gate of the three liberations". When you visit a Zen temple, you can find the Sanmon Gate located between the outer gate - Sōmon and the main hall - Butsuden. At important temples, these are usually imposing, 2-storied structures, like the one photographed here, the Sanmon Gate from the Engakuji Temple, the number two of Kamakura’s five great Zen temples:
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A Japan Photo per Day - Kamijinko Imaginary Elephants
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 11 January 2011
There are hundreds of sculptures at the Toshougu Shrine from Nikko (Yomeimon Gate only has over 500), and there are some interesting facts about some of them. A good example is the sculpture from Kamijinko, the Upper Sacred Warehouse: it was made after a painting by Kanō Tan’yū and it represents two animals, called “imaginary elefants".
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A Japan Photo per Day - Futarasan Shinmon Gate
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 13 December 2010
The Futarasan Shrine 「二荒山神社」 from Nikko was established in 767, by the Buddhist monk Shōdō Shōnin. He also founded in 782 another shrine, the Oku-miya Shrine, located on the top of Mount Nantai (also known as Futarasan 「二荒山」Mount Futara), the mount from which the Futarasan Shrine takes its name.
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Autumn in Chuzenji
Blog: Budget Trouble - 12 November 2010
Let's face it, I am obsessed with Chuzenji. And that's a fact. If I were independently rich, I'd move there in a heartbeat. And I'm eternally jealous of those lucky souls who actually get to live there. Bastards don't even know how special they are. Sadly, I am not rich. And even sadder - neither is my husband. So much for my living in Chuzenji dream. So since moving there is not an option, I have to be happy with visiting every now and then.
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A Japan Photo per Day - Shoro Tower
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 11 November 2010
In Nikko, on the sides of the Toshougu Shrine’s Yomeimon Gate, we can admire two lavishly ornate towers, 12.6 meters tall. One of them hosts a bell (Shoro Tower - on the right side, when looking from outside) and the other one houses a big drum (Koro Tower). From a distance they look the same, but on a closer look, the Shoro Tower, pictured here, is ornamented with more sculptures, representing cranes, dragons, and giraffes.
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A Japan Photo per Day - Children's Attraction at Toshougu
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 28 October 2010
There are many attractions at Toshougu Shrine in Nikko, for tourists of all ages. I noticed that the adults are mostly interested in the Yomeimon Gate, but the children’s favorite attraction is the Shinkyu-Sha, the stable for the sacred horse, the building with the famous three wise monkeys.
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30 Must Have Souvenirs from Japan... and some Travel Tips
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 24 October 2010
Did ever happened to you to be in a foreign country, to wish to bring home some souvenir and to be unable to decide what to buy? In Japan, this may be an interesting topic, since there are so many options… From my experience, I compiled a list of Japanese souvenirs which will really highlight some typical aspects of Japan… I hope it will be helpful! 1. Maneki neko
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Monjayaki vs Okonomiyaki
Blog: Budget Trouble - 17 October 2010
It’s always interesting to learn just what kind of google searches bring people to our blog. Sometimes it’s the bizarre stuff, like “monkeys use onsen in winter what do they do when they get out” or “tengu fetish”. Sorry, I don’t know what they do when they get out, presumably use a towel to dry themselves and then retire under the blankets with a heating pad. That’s what I would do, and I’m of comparable intelligence to a Japanese monkey. And "Tengu fetish"?
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Walk in the woods - behind the shrine complex in Nikko
Blog: Budget Trouble - 17 October 2010
Last Thursday we had some errands to run, and as much as I hate errands, I can’t complain too much in this case. One of those errands brought us to Futaara shrine in Nikko. See what I mean? There are plenty of a lot worse places you could be forced to visit on official business. Like the Immigration Office in Utsunomiya, or the drivers license testing center in Kanuma. I’ll take the Shrine and Temple complex anytime.
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Walk in the woods - behind the shrine complex in Nikko
Blog: Budget Trouble - 30 August 2010
Last Thursday we had some errands to run, and as much as I hate errands, I can’t complain too much in this case. One of those errands brought us to Futaara shrine in Nikko. See what I mean? There are plenty of a lot worse places you could be forced to visit on official business. Like the Immigration Office in Utsunomiya, or the drivers license testing center in Kanuma. I’ll take the Shrine and Temple complex anytime.
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Monjayaki vs Okonomiyaki
Blog: Budget Trouble - 28 August 2010
It’s always interesting to learn just what kind of google searches bring people to our blog. Sometimes it’s the bizarre stuff, like “monkeys use onsen in winter what do they do when they get out” or “tengu fetish”. Sorry, I don’t know what they do when they get out, presumably use a towel to dry themselves and then retire under the blankets with a heating pad. That’s what I would do, and I’m of comparable intelligence to a Japanese monkey. And "Tengu fetish"?
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A Japan Photo per Day - Miko guide at Shinyosha
Blog: Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - 26 August 2010
There are many buildings at the Toshougu Shrine in Nikko, and each has its own role. The building from this photo is the Shinyosha (Shed of Portable Shrine), the place where the mikoshi are stored.
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Beat the Crowds - Nikko Shrines Best in Morning
Blog: Living the Dream: RTW - 24 August 2010
For most, the city of Nikko is done as a day trip from Tokyo to see the three most famous shrines and temples in the region. The 90 minute train ride, and relatively affordable ticket prices, has made it a great destination for those on limited time.
