Nikko Futarasan Shrine: Exploring World Cultural Heritage Sites

Nikko Futarasan Shrine, located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, is a historic shrine. It is a designated Shikinai-sha (a shrine listed in the Engishiki), a candidate for Myojin Taisha, and the Ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province. Formerly classified as a Kokuhei Chusha (a mid-ranked national shrine), it is now a Bekkaku Shrine under the Association of Shinto Shrines. Over 1200 years ago, the monk Shodo Shonin founded Nikko Mountain. Futarasan Shrine, an ancient shrine that marked the beginning of Nikko Mountain worship, enshrines Mount Nantai (Futara Mountain) as its sacred object. It has long been revered as the Ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province, attracting many worshippers. The main deity of Futarasan Shrine is Okuninushi no Mikoto, the god of good fortune and matchmaking, making it a popular shrine for those seeking blessings in relationships. Additionally, the beautiful wooden vermilion-lacquered Shinkyo Bridge, which adorns the entrance to Nikko Mountain, is a structure of Futarasan Shrine. Why not visit this bridge, considered the gateway to the World Heritage Site 'Shrines and Temples of Nikko,' along with the shrine itself?