Monkey, cat, sparrow, elephant, eagle, tiger, lion, kylin, dragon … The world heritage “Nikko Toshogu” is a zoo of sculptures!

“Nikko Toshogu Shrine”, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is a shrine dedicated to Ieyasu Tokugawa, and it was built in 1617 based on the will of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate. Most of today’s shrines were rebuilt from 1634 to 1636 by the third shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa.

In the ground of the shrine, there are 55 shrine pavilions including 8 national treasures and 34 important cultural heritages and there are many highlights such as building designs and sculptures with vivid colors. In 1999, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the pavilion of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, there are many sculptures such as people, sacred beasts, animals, insects, flowers, etc. I will introduce the particularly famous three sculptures of animals in Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

In the stable called “Shinkyusha”, there are sculptures of the monkeys that are considered the guardian deities of horses. There are 8 scenes of monkey sculptures in total and people see their lives in the sculptures. Among the 8 scenes of monkey sculptures, the most famous one is the second one, “three wise monkeys”. Each sculpture represents “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. They teach us the lesson that “Let’s learn only good things without seeing, hearing or speaking about evil things”.

There are two sculptures of elephants at the warehouse called “Kamijinko”, but at that time, there is no one who saw the elephant in Japan, so this sculpture was created in the imagination of people. Those sculptures are called “imaginary elephants”.

In the Sakashita Gate of the “East Corridor” heading to Okumiya (rear shrine) where the grave of Ieyasu Tokugawa is located, there is a sculpture called “Nemuri Neko (sleeping cat)”. The cat is said to be sleeping to protect Ieyasu Tokugawa, and also it is said to be ready to pounce on enemies because it is picking its ears up and holding its front paws. Additionally, there are two sculptures of sparrows on the back of this “Nemuri Neko”. It is said that this sculpture represents “Tenka Taihei”, a peaceful world where sparrows can live in peace even with the cats. 

Access to Nikko Toshogu Shrine

From Tokyo

It takes about 50 minutes by Tohoku Shinkansen from JR Tokyo Station to JR Utsunomiya Station. Transfer to the JR Nikko Line at JR Utsunomiya Station and get to JR Nikko Station in about 45 minutes. Get off at JR Nikko Station. It takes about 10 minutes from Nikko Station Bus Stop to Shinkyo Bus Stop by local bus, and about 10 minute-walk from Shinkyo Bus Stop.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Itami Airport to Haneda Airport. It takes about 45 minutes from Haneda Airport Terminal 1/Terminal 2 Station to Toei Asakusa Station by Keihin Kyuko Airport Line/Toei Asakusa Line. At Toei Asakusa Station, transfer to the Tobu Isesaki Line (Skytree Line) Limited Express to get to Tobu Nikko Station in about 1 hour 50 minutes. Get off at Tobu Nikko Station. It takes about 10 minutes from Tobu Nikko Station Bus Stop to Shinkyo Bus Stop by local bus, and about 10 minute-walk from Shinkyo Bus Stop.

It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Kansai Airport to Narita Airport. It takes about 1 hour from Keisei Narita Airport Station to Tobu Asakusa Station by the Keisei Narita Airport Line, Oshiage Line and Toei Asakusa Line. At Tobu Asakusa Station, transfer to the Tobu Isesaki Line (Skytree Line) Limited Express to get to Tobu Nikko Station in about 1 hour 50 minutes.