Not sure how I will go backwards blogging but definitely need to put Nikko in the book. It was the last day of our tour travel and we were departing from Tokyo. We had arrived back from Niigata the night before and most were a little travel weary. On the way to our hotel Eiko our guide ran through the next days programme which included a world heritage shrine, a big waterfall, a crater lake but all I really heard was three hour bus trip home, which didn’t sound at all appealing. I wasn’t alone as only half the bus was front and centre in the morning.
I was worried that Visiting another shrine would be a bit like ABC in Europe but no worries there. It was as a great, big day out, and we were really glad we didn’t miss it. The Nikko Toshogu shrine built in the 1600’s is a Japanese treasure and rightly so as it’s amazing. It sits in amongst ancient Cedar trees and it’s ornateness contrasts starkly yet somehow sits quietly alongside.
Above is the stables which has the carving of the three monkeys on which is aJapanese proverb. These are the origins and was made as a mural to children on virtues they should hold.
It’s really hard to pick just a few photos that can capture the space.
The above pictures are just of the roof.
We wandered around but didn’t go inside. Two reasons, one because it was really busy with school trips and I didn’t want my hand squished and secondly you have to take your shoes off and I can’t tie my laces. There was plenty to see outside and around so was a great excuse to keep exploring.
We leave here and head to the lake for lunch. It’s an amazing road that winds through the national park which is stunning in its colour. The Japanese call it “Koyo” and evidently in a couple more weeks if you came up on the weekend the 30 min trip would take you over 2 hours due to the traffic. At the top it was cloudy and misty so we didn’t get to see the mountain reflecting in the lake but it was still pretty.
The swans layed up around the edge of the lake waiting for a summer, the low mist and the changing leaves all added to its presence.
From here we headed to the Keogan waterfall which was really hard to capture in a photo so this doesn’t do it justice.
Then it was back down the road to Tokyo
I have realised that I havnt talked much of the group tour thing, which can Be a bit of a lottery. We have been very lucky that Penny and Rob have been brilliant. They along with our guide Eiko have not only ensured that we all got to where we are going but that we had a great time on the way. A three hour bus trip is only actually only two and a bit as you stop on the way for 20 mins and have no hold ups. The two and a bit feels nothing as Rob keeps the comraderie going with games of interesting facts. It’s a great time, with a great bunch of people a good time has been had by all and we are very lucky.
