funky gnarled tree at Shouyouen garden
pond carp in Shouyouen garden
Shouyouen garden (with the treasure house in the background)
Shouyouen garden
mostly ¥1 coins. (¥1 is roughly equal to 1¢)
another interesting tree at Shouyouen
Erwan's favorite tree(s)
rain chain!
Sanbutsudo (Three Buddha Hall)
a typical purification brazier outside Sanbutsudo
three of these little guys hold up the brazier at Sanbutsudo
funky trees outside Sanbutsudo
Erwan (foreground) and Ian (center) ascending to Sanbutsudo
Sanbutsudo (anyone care for a fortune?)
Sutra Repository outside Sanbutsudo (or missile launcher)
Ian, Motoko, and Erwan
stone lantern at entrance to Toshogu Shrine
Nikko's Five Storied Pagoda
Closer view of the decoration on the Five Storied Pagoda
The carvings around the top of the first story are the 12 animals of the zodiac. (Shown here are dragon, rabbit, and tiger)
Ishidorii (Torii Stone Gate)
Omotemon (Front Gate), with the scabby looking Deva Kings just visible.
detail on Omotemon
Toshogu Shrine Stone Lanterns
Sanzaru (Story of the Three Monkeys)
what is this for? does it serve a purpose? Does it lead to an underground passage? My theory - it's sole purpose is to make tourists ask :)
Nakajinko (Middle Sacred Warehouse)
Kamijinko (Upper Sacred Warehouse) at Toshogu Shrine
Detail of Kamijinko's rather imaginitive elephant carvings. (There were a lot of imaginitive elephant carvings in Nikko, at Toshogu Shrine in particular.)
That bull sure looks upset at that fly.
Omizuya (Water House), Karadou-torii (Torii Bronze Gate), Kyozo (Sutra Library)
Closer view of Omizuya
Kyozo (Sutra Library)
doors of Kyozo
Karadou-torii
Karadou-torii framing Yomeimon (Sunlight Gate)
Drum Tower
"Elephant" adorning the Drum Tower
"Elephant" on the Bell Tower
Yomeimon
