Day 2 of Winter Travel in Nikko ~Mt. Nikko Rinno-ji and Nikko Toshogu Shrine~
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Nikko Futarasan Jinja is a shrine that is dedicated to Nikko Sanzan, the highest peak of Nikko Renzan,
There are also satellite shrines apart from the main shrine, like Chugushi at Lake Chuzenji and Okumiya at the summit of Mt. Nantai, but today I visited the main shrine at Mt. Nikko.

Here is the worship hall at the front of the shrine.
It was decorated modestly compared to places like Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

The path to the side of the worship hall was very pleasant.

Sometimes I took pictures at medium range with a 90mm macro lens.

This place is also famous for being good luck for marriage.
I guess that doesn’t really apply to me, though…

My last stop in the tour of “The Shrines and Temples of Nikko” was Rinno-ji Taiyuin.
Rinno-ji Taiyuin is the tomb of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu Tokugawa.

The area had a very dignified atmosphere.

The 315 lanterns were very moving.

The Tamozawa Imperial Villa was built in 1899 as a retreat for Emperor Taisho (the crown prince of the time). It was used by Emperor Taisho and 3 other geenrations of emperors before abolishment in 1947. In 2000, it was opened to the public as a memorial park.

The atmosphere here was calm and regal, befitting the imperial family.

The entrance to the building is a carriageway porch.

I took a look inside.

Supposedly the Imperial Family enjoyed billiards thanks to their relationship to foreign countries.

Snapshots of the house are below.