Nikkō Tōshogū

Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

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Nikkō Tōshōgū in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, is a richly decorated Shinto shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate, which began the long Edo period in the early 1600s. Located in a forested mountain setting, the shrine complex is part of the UNESCO‑listed “Shrines and Temples of Nikkō,” and its golden, lacquered halls, carved gates, and detailed woodwork make it one of Japan’s most ornate religious sites. Visitors commonly admire highlights such as the Yōmeimon Gate, covered in hundreds of elaborate carvings, the five‑storied pagoda, and famous sculptures like the “sleeping cat” and the “three monkeys” symbolizing “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” The shrine is both a major pilgrimage and tourist destination, often visited on day trips from Tokyo and combined with nearby temples and natural attractions in the Nikkō area.