Nikkō san'nai, Remnants of the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism~Part 1 The way to Nikkō and Rin'nōji

About 3 hours from Tōkyō, arrived at Tobu-nikko station.
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This visit is by a local train. Limited express trains takes about 2 hours.
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Inside the station building of Tobu-nikko station.
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Tobu-nikko station has a triangular roof as it is in a mountain hut in the Alps.
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The monument of the "World Heritage" in front of the station.
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A view of the station. The station building was rebuilt in 1979.
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Bus is available from the station to Nikkō san'nai, but going to walk.
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The street from the station, National Route 119, used to be a part of Nikkō Kaidō, a route built by the Tokugawa Shogunate to connect Edo and Nikkō. Some souvenir shops and restaurants are along the street.
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A tramway used to operate on this street, connecting to a funicular and gondola to Akechidaira. However it was closed in 1968.
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Some shops along the street have long histories, established in the Edo period.
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The white building on the hill is Nikkō city hall Nikkō branch. It originally was built as "Daimyō hotel" in 1919. It took 15 years to build, but it never was used as a hotel, and had been used as a government office since 1954.
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Going up the slope. Getting close to Nikkō san'nai.
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An old building coming in sight. It is Nikkō Bussan Shōkai.
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Nikkō Bussan Shōkai originally was a souvenir shop of Nikkō Kanaya Hotel. Nikkō Kanaya Hotel is on the hill behind the shop.
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The building was built in 1905, and is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
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The fountain accross the street from Nikkō Bussan Shōkai is Iwasaku Reisui.
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It is said that Shōdō Shōnin, the founder of Nikkō-san, found this springing water, and since then, worshippers dedicated this miraculous water to the gods.
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Next to the Nikkō Bussan Shōkai is the Shinkyō. It is the first noted place, and also the entrance of Nikkō san'nai. The Shinkyō is a part of Futarasan shrine, and is listed as a World Heritage Site.
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In 766, when Shōdō Shōnin and his party reached the riverbank of Daiya river, they weren't able to cross the rapid stream. It is said that, when Shōdō Shōnin asked the gods for help, Jinja-daiō appeared and released two snakes, and the snakes laid across the river and formed a bridge. The vermillion bridge, like it is now, was first built in 1636, and the bridge that exists now was built in 1904, after it floods washed away the bridge in 1902.
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The river under the bridge is Daiya river. A very clear stream.
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The Shinkyō, after it was rebuilt in 1636, it was seen as a sacred bridge, and had only been used in special occasions such as in rituals or visits by shōguns and chokushis. So another bridge, the Nikkō bridge, was built for general public. The Nikkō bridge that exists now was rebuilt in 1962, due to the increase of motor traffic .
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The other side of the Nikkō bridge is Nikkō san'nai, the World Heritage Site "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō".
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A memorial of the World Heritage Site.
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The stairs continues on into the forest.
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The stairs lead to Nikkō san'nai too, but trying another stairs on the left.
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Looking back.
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The Shinkyō seen below. The Shinkyō is open to the public at a fee. However, you cannot cross all the way to this side.
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The path leads to Jinjaōdō.
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The Jinjaōdō enshrines Jinjadaiō in the legend of the Shinkyō, as Jaō-gongen.
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Looking back at the path.
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Soon after the Jinjaōdō, there is a slope called Nagasaka.
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This path was also a part of Nikkō Kaidō. It is the main path to Nikkō-san.
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Continuing on through the forest of cedar.
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The slope continues after the corner.
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It is a great forest of cedar.
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The fresh green of the leaves are beautiful.
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After the second corner, almost at the top of the slope.
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There is a small water fall by the slope called Nagasaka fall.
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The small stream beside the path becomes a water fall.
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Looking back at the slope.
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At the top of the slope, is Rin'nōji. At the entrance, is a statue of Shōdō Shōnin, the founder of Nikkō-san.
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Shōdō Shōnin was a Buddhist monk around the Nara period and Heian period. He followed an oracle he had when he was young, saying to learn Buddhism and establish Nikkō-san. This statue was built in 1955 as a memorial of the 1200th anniversary of establishment.
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The water-basin in front of the statue. It was a votive offering, in 1897.
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Going in to the Temple.
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The Sanbutsudō, which is the main hall of Rin'nōji. Repair works had been carried out since 2007, and is enclosed in scaffolds.
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The Sanbutsudō from the front. On the right is a 500 year old cherry blossom tree called Kongō-zakura. The Sanbutsudō that exists now was built in 1645 by Tokugawa Iemitsu, after it collapsed by heavy snow. It originally was where the shrine office of Futarasan shrine is now, but was relocated due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in the Meiji era.
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There is a ticketing office on the left of the Sanbutsudō. The ticket that includes admission to the Taiyūin is convenient.
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Going in to the Sanbutsudō.
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The Goshuin of Sanbutsudō. It is available inside the Sanbutsudō.
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Exiting to the other side of the Sanbutsudō. No photography is allowed inside, but it houses gold-leafed statues, over 7.5m tall, of the Senju-kannon, the Amida-nyorai and the Batō-kannon, those are Buddhist manifestations of Nikkō-sanshogongen, the three mountain gods.
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Behind the Sanbutsudō is the Ōgomadō. It houses 30 Buddhist statues including the principal object, Godaimyō'ō. Prayers are offered and holy fires are lighted.
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Goshuin is available at the Ōgomadō too.
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After passing the Ōgomadō, is a wide path. The left side.
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And the right side.
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The path leads to the Tōshōgū.
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