Nikko

Nikko Guide - Nikko is famous for its temples and shrines including Nikko Toshogu Shrine (World Heritage site) and its nearby Nikko National Park. Nikko Tours and attractions. Nikko (日光市 ,Nikkō-shi, literally “sunlight” or “sunshine”) is a city located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Kanto, Japan. Located approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and approximately 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists, housing the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine) and that of his grandson Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), as well as the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikko National Park and contain some of the country’s most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails. As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,181. Nikko Toshogu Gate - Picture by BorgQueen Nikko Attractions - Cedar Avenue of Nikko - Futarasan Shrine - Sacred Bridge - Lake Chuzenji - near 100m high Kegon Falls - Nikko Botanical Garden - Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine - Three wise monkeys - Rinnoji Temple - Taiyū-in Mausoleum Nikko Tours Organised tours from Tokyo to Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine are available. These tours also include the nearby Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls. Further information and online booking are here. Nikko Geography The post-merger city of Nikko covers a large area (1,449.87 km²) of rural north-western Tochigi. It is the third-largest city (by area) in Japan, behind Takayama and Hamamatsu. Lake Chūzenji and the Kegon Falls lie in Nikko, as does the Nikko Botanical Garden. The city’s many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power. The area has also been used for mining copper, aluminium and concrete. The weather in Nikko is fairly similar to that of Hokkaido even though it is much closer to Tokyo than Hokkaido. The elevation of Nikko plays an important role in this fact. It will usually get cooler as one ascends the mountain. The average temperature of Nikko is around 7°C (44°F) with the warmest months reaching only about 22°C (72°F) and the coldest reaching down to about -8°C (17°F) Nikko History Shōdō Shōnin (勝道上人) established the temple of Rinnō-ji in 766, followed by the temple of Chūzen-ji in 784. The village of Nikko developed around these temples. The shrine of Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during the Edo period. A number of new roads were built during this time to provide easier access to Nikko from surrounding regions. Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnō-ji now form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the Meiji period Nikko developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. The Japanese National Railways began service to Nikko in 1890 with the Nikkō Line, followed by Tobu Railway in 1929 with its Nikko Line. Nikko was incorporated as a town in 1889, part of Kamitsuga District. It was upgraded to city status in 1954 after merging with the neighboring village of Okorogawa. On March 20, 2006, the city of Nikko merged with the city of Imaichi and the municipalities of Ashio, Fujihara, and Kuriyama to create what is officially the new city of Nikko. The new city hall is located at the former Imaichi City Hall: the former Nikko City Hall is now known as Nikko City Hall-Nikkō Satellite Office. (Article based on Wikipedia article and used under the GNU Free Documentation License) |