The (Tosho-gu (日光東照宮) and the Futarasan Shinto Shrines) and the Buddhist temple (The Rinno-Ji) are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Yomeimon (Sunlight Gate, it's called because it faces south) and is named one of the twelve gates of the imperial court. Built in 1636 and maintained throughout the years it stands in a condition equal to that at the time of its original construction. There are over 500 masterful carvings, of these 194 are carvings of 30 different kinds of mystical, mythological creatures they are known as Reiju Holy Spiritual animals. The gate is huge standing over 36feet high, 23 feet wide, and 14 feet thick. It is also known as the “Higurashi-no-mon” (Twilight Gate) because a person can easily stand from first light to well after twilight mesmerized by its carvings.
Also in Niikko, are over a hundred beautiful structures, they are architectural and decorative masterpieces set in a serene natural old growth forest. A Nikko photo tour is fun, educational and a mesmerizing spiritually humbling journey through time. Shinto and Buddhist practices are active throughout Nikko dating back to the 8th century.
From the first shogun of the (Tokugawa bakufu 徳川幕府 1603), Tokugawa Ieyasu to The Last Shogun of the (Tokugawa Shogunate 1868) Tokugawa Yoshinobu, Nikko was of most importance to all of the fifteen Tokugawa Shoguns. And some say Nikko holds the secret to the lost Honjo Masamune Katana, one of the greatest samurai swords and mysteries!