The sanbutsudo at Tosho-gu is under renovation, which is really too bad because it's an amazing building. The upside is that you can climb up a few floors to have a look at what goes on during temple/shrine renovation, and from way up there, you get a pretty good view of the surrounding hills and … Continue reading View from Tosho-gu
Nikko Elephants
There are a few elephant heads, as well as whole elephants, carved into the structures at Nikko's Tosho-gu. Apparently (and understandably), the builders/carvers had only stories on which to base their work, having never seen an elephant. For some reason, they seem to have been under the impression that elephants were pretty sinister creatures. I … Continue reading Nikko Elephants
Last of the Koyo
The fall leaves in Nikko fell ages ago, having passed their best before we visited in mid-November. But we didn't miss all the colour. We got to see some bright reds, yellows and oranges while wandering Tosho-gu. Kamakura, on the other hand, is just now passing its peak.
No Evil
A few weeks back, the family and I went on a short trip to Nikko, a World Heritage site a few hours north of Tokyo. The big shrine-temple complex there, Tosho-gu, is home to the three monkeys of see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil fame.
鎌倉ペンション・Inn By The Sea Kamakura 