Tokyo | Kyoto | Nara | Nihon | Mt Fuji | Hakone | Nikko

We were very excited this morning as it was the last day of our trip to Japan and also the last day of the year 2017. Remembering the last day gave me such a nostalgic feeling on my journey to this place.

Here I go –  

We woke up early and reached our first meeting point in Tokyo, which was only a 2-minute walk from our hotel. From there, we boarded a bus to reach our second meeting point, i.e., the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal. It was a beautiful 2-hour bus drive to Nikko. We could see the fields and mountains all along the way, which made the journey so scenic.

Toshogu Shrine

Our first tourist spot was Toshogu Shrine – It is said that it is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who ruled the country for over 250 years. The shrine is built in his name as the “Great Deity of the East Shining Light.”  The shrine consists of several beautiful buildings decorated with gold leaves and wood carvings. It is the only Shrine that depicts both Shinto and Buddhist culture.

The most notable architecture in the shrine is the five-storey pagoda gate, which is opened only periodically to visitors. The interesting buildings include Entrance Gate of the Imaginary Elephants, Three Stores House, and Stable House of 3 monkeys, which depicts “speak no evil, see no evil, listen no evil.“

Yakushido Temple

The other interesting monument is the Yakushido Temple, which features the Crying Dragon. One can also see the sleeping cat at Sakashitamon Gate. Beyond these buildings is the main hall, which is dedicated to the Ieyasu spirits. One needs to remove their shoes to go to this place. The Shrine is very big and different from the rest of the Shrines in Japan.

It was freezing cold the day we visited this place.

Before moving to our next tourist spot, we took a brief stop for lunch. The lunch was superb, served in a Japanese style. The experience of eating vegetarian food in Japanese style was amazing. It is heaven for non-vegetarian foodies.

Lake Chuzenji

Our next stop was my personal favorite, Lake Chuzenji. The view which we got upon reaching here was jaw-dropping. Everything was freezing Trees, Roads, and Humans except the Lake, which was quite surprising. Actually, that’s the speciality of this lake: it never freezes despite being the highest lake in Japan.

Kegon Falls

The last and final spot was Kegon Falls. It is the most famous waterfall in Nikko and the most beautiful in Japan. It is the only exit gate for the waters of Lake Chuzenji. The temperature was freezing outside, but the view was spectacular. There are many souvenir shops here available for shopping.

It was definitely one of the best tours I ever had. Highly recommended during winters.