Part 5. Nikko (continued)

As you climb higher through Nikko's shrines, you begin to see some of them from the above: not the intricate details, but the beauty of roof shapes, towering trees, the general layout of the place.

Shrine roofs, Nikko.

Futarasan-jinja, Nikko.

Each small shrine has its own color scheme. Futarasan- jinja, a shrine to mountain gods, is mostly red.

Small shrine, Nikko.

Guardian, Futarasan-jinja, Nikko.

Road to Futarasan-jinja, Nikko.

Futarasan-jinja, Nikko.

Bell tower, Tosho-gu, Nikko.

The most beautiful shrine is the little Taiyuin- byo, hidden deeper into the forest. It is similar to Tosho-gu, but a bit more reserved in style.

Bell tower, Taiyuin-byo, Nikko.

Water fountains, Taiyuin-byo, Nikko.

Detail of well roof, Taiyuin-byo, Nikko.

Taking photos in Nikko is difficult. You try to get the whole picture and as much detail as possible at the same time. But there's too much to get, not to mention put online.

Detail of well roof, Taiyuin-byo, Nikko.

Detail of shrine design, Nikko.

Door, Nikko.

Japanese temples and shrines are not just historical museums. Most of them are actively used as places of worship. Priests are being trained, the land and buildings are always in perfect condition.

Archer statue, Nikko.

Shrine cleaning, Nikko.

Local residents, Nikko.

Shrine cleaning, Nikko.

Painted lamp, Nikko.

Temple towns such as Nikko and other tourist-infested areas are a good place to look for souvenirs. In Japan, most of them are very expensive; besides, there are so many and they are so good that it's almost impossible to choose something. As I am usually limited by budget and backpack weight, I explore souvenir shops as if they were little museums.

Cricket orchestra, Nikko.

	You never know what you might see. These tiny dolls were for sale in a small souvenir shop. There were 19 kinds, all characters from the old times, from farmers and geishas to officials and Meiji-era intellectuals. They were less than $3 apiece, but it wouldn't make sense to buy just one - you have to have the whole series. So I just videotaped them.
	Dolls for sale, Nikko.

Gate detail, Nikko.

As you climb upslope from the shrines of Nikko, a long set of steps leads you to lone tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who united Japan after centuries of civil wars. He was a remarkable person - his name is mentioned in a lot of tales, anecdotes and legends. His descendants built most of Nikko as we see it today.

Gate detail, Nikko.

Tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nikko.

Part 6: Snow Country

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