Explore the Extravagant Aesthetics of Nikko Toshogu Shrine

Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo Shogunate, is Japan's most exquisite and luxurious architectural masterpiece, showcasing decoration art at its finest! Located in Tochigi Prefecture, the shrine was built between 1617 and 1636 to commemorate Tokugawa Ieyasu. As the most important representative of Edo period architectural decoration art, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1999. The main structures of Toshogu include the famous Yomeimon Gate, Kara Gate, the main hall, Tokugawa Ieyasu's tomb, and renowned wood carvings such as the "Three Wise Monkeys," "Sleeping Cat," and "Imaginary Elephant." The heritage sites also include Taiyuin (the tomb of the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu), Rinnoji Temple, and Futarasan Shrine, collectively known as the "Two Shrines and One Temple" complex. The area is also famous for its hot springs and towering ancient trees, making it the most renowned historical site in the Kanto region and a scenic spot second only to Mount Fuji.