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 Toshogu 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
Organised tours from Tokyo to
Nikko Toshogu 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)
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 Toshogu Shrine
was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during
the Edo period.
(Article
based on
Wikipedia article and used under the
GNU Free Documentation License)
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