Nikko, Tochigi
Encyclopedia
is a city
in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture
, Japan
. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo
and 35 km west of Utsunomiya
, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture
, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists. Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu
(Nikkō Tōshō-gū
) and that of his grandson Iemitsu
(Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), and the Futarasan Shrine
, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen
) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikkō National Park
and contain some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.
As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population
of 92,181.
in 766, followed by the temple of Chūzen-ji in 784. The village of Nikkō developed around these temples. The shrine of Nikkō Tōshō-gū
was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during the Edo period
. It is known as the burial place of the famous Japanese shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu
. A number of new roads were built during this time to provide easier access to Nikkō from surrounding regions. Nikkō Tōshō-gū
, Futarasan Shrine
, and Rinnō-ji
now form the UNESCO
World Heritage Site
Shrines and Temples of Nikkō
.
During the Meiji period
Nikkō developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. The Japanese National Railways
began service to Nikkō in 1890 with the Nikkō Line
, followed by Tobu Railway
in 1929 with its Nikkō Line.
Nikkō was incorporated as a town in 1889, part of Kamitsuga District
. It was upgraded to city status in 1954 after merging with the neighboring village of Okorogawa
. On March 20, 2006 Nikkō absorbed the old city of Imaichi
, the town of Ashio
, from Kamitsuga District
, the town of Fujihara
and the village of Kuriyama
, both from Shioya District
, to create what is officially the new city of Nikkō. The new city hall is located at the former Imaichi City Hall: the former Nikkō City Hall is now known as Nikkō City Hall-Nikkō Satellite Office.
Central Nikkō
and Hamamatsu
.
Lake Chūzenji
and the Kegon Falls
lie in Nikkō, as does the Nikko Botanical Garden
. The city's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power. The area has also been used for mining copper
, aluminum and concrete
.
The weather in Nikkō is fairly similar to that of Hokkaidō
even though it is much closer to Tokyo
than Hokkaidō. The elevation of Nikkō plays an important role in this fact. It will usually get cooler as one ascends the mountain. The average temperature of Nikkō is around 7°C (44°F) with the warmest months reaching only about 22°C (72°F) and the coldest reaching down to about -8°C (17°F).
. Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena
hosted the Women's Ice Hockey World Championships
(Division I) in April 2007.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and 35 km west of Utsunomiya
Utsunomiya, Tochigi
is the capital and most populous city of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. In October 2010 the city had an estimated population of 510,416 and a population density of 1,224.49 people per square kilometer. The total area is 416.84 km². had a population of 888,005 in the 2000 Census...
, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists. Attractions include the mausoleum of shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
(Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Nikko Tosho-gu
is a Shinto shrine located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu's son Hidetada...
) and that of his grandson Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Tokugawa Iemitsu was the third shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. He was the eldest son of Tokugawa Hidetada, and the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Iemitsu ruled from 1623 to 1651.-Early life :...
(Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), and the Futarasan Shrine
Futarasan Shrine
, also known as Nikkō Futarasan Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. To distinguish it from the shrine in nearby Utsunomiya. It enshrines three deities: Ōkuninushi, Tagorihime, and Ajisukitakahikone....
, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs (onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m. The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikkō National Park
Nikko National Park
is a national park in the Kantō region, on the main island of Honshū in Japan. The park spreads over four prefectures: Tochigi, Gunma, Fukushima, and Niigata.Notable attractions include:* Nikkō Tōshō-gū* Lake Chūzenji* Kegon Falls* Ryūzu Falls* Mount Nantai...
and contain some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.
As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 92,181.
History
established the temple of Rinnō-jiRinno-ji
is a complex of 15 Buddhist temple buildings in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The site was established in the year 766 by the Buddhist monk, Shōdō. Due to its geographic isolation, deep in the mountains of Japan, the site soon attracted other Buddhist monks in search of solitude. ...
in 766, followed by the temple of Chūzen-ji in 784. The village of Nikkō developed around these temples. The shrine of Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Nikko Tosho-gu
is a Shinto shrine located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu's son Hidetada...
was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. It is known as the burial place of the famous Japanese shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
. A number of new roads were built during this time to provide easier access to Nikkō from surrounding regions. Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Nikko Tosho-gu
is a Shinto shrine located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu's son Hidetada...
, Futarasan Shrine
Futarasan Shrine
, also known as Nikkō Futarasan Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. To distinguish it from the shrine in nearby Utsunomiya. It enshrines three deities: Ōkuninushi, Tagorihime, and Ajisukitakahikone....
, and Rinnō-ji
Rinno-ji
is a complex of 15 Buddhist temple buildings in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The site was established in the year 766 by the Buddhist monk, Shōdō. Due to its geographic isolation, deep in the mountains of Japan, the site soon attracted other Buddhist monks in search of solitude. ...
now form the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
Shrines and Temples of Nikkō
Shrines and Temples of Nikkō
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō encompasses 103 buildings or structures and the natural setting around them. It is located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The buildings belong to two Shinto shrines and one Buddhist temple...
.
During the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Nikkō developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. The Japanese National Railways
Japanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
began service to Nikkō in 1890 with the Nikkō Line
Nikko Line
The is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company which runs from to .Both the Tōbu and JR East railway stations in Nikkō are located within walking distance of each other.-Station list:* Trains can pass each other at any station....
, followed by Tobu Railway
Tobu Railway
is a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures...
in 1929 with its Nikkō Line.
Nikkō was incorporated as a town in 1889, part of Kamitsuga District
Kamitsuga District, Tochigi
was a district located in Tochigi, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 20,718 and a density of 52.44 persons per km². The total area was 395.11 km².-Towns and villages:*Ashio*Awano*Nishikata-Mergers:...
. It was upgraded to city status in 1954 after merging with the neighboring village of Okorogawa
Okorogawa, Tochigi
was a village in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It traces its origins to the village of Itako, which was established by the merger of Okorogawa and neighboring Itaga in Kamitsuga District on April 1, 1889, when Japan adopted a new system of towns and villages. The two became separate on May 1, 1893. On...
. On March 20, 2006 Nikkō absorbed the old city of Imaichi
Imaichi, Tochigi
was a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Imaichi, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, and the village of Kuriyama, both from Shioya District, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō...
, the town of Ashio
Ashio, Tochigi
Ashio was a town located in Kamitsuga District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Ashio, along with the town of Fujihara, the village of Kuriyama, both from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō....
, from Kamitsuga District
Kamitsuga District, Tochigi
was a district located in Tochigi, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 20,718 and a density of 52.44 persons per km². The total area was 395.11 km².-Towns and villages:*Ashio*Awano*Nishikata-Mergers:...
, the town of Fujihara
Fujihara, Tochigi
Fujihara was a town located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Fujihara, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the village of Kuriyama, also from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō.As of 2001, the town had an...
and the village of Kuriyama
Kuriyama, Tochigi
Kuriyama was a village located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Kuriyama, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, also from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō...
, both from Shioya District
Shioya District, Tochigi
Shioya is a district located in Tochigi, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 57,656 and a density of 60.91 persons per square kilometer...
, to create what is officially the new city of Nikkō. The new city hall is located at the former Imaichi City Hall: the former Nikkō City Hall is now known as Nikkō City Hall-Nikkō Satellite Office.
Historical sites and attractions
- Cedar Avenue of NikkoCedar Avenue of NikkoThe is a street in Japan lined with approximately 13,000 cryptomeria trees, known as Sugi, the national tree of Japan. Consisting of three parts converging on the city of Imaichi, the Cedar Avenue of Nikkō is 35.41 kilometers long and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest...
- Nikko Botanical GardenNikko Botanical GardenThe is a botanical garden operated by the Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, and located at 1842 Hanaishi, Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan, on rolling terrain with streams and ponds at 647 meters above sea level...
- Shrines and Temples of NikkōShrines and Temples of NikkōThe UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō encompasses 103 buildings or structures and the natural setting around them. It is located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The buildings belong to two Shinto shrines and one Buddhist temple...
(Nikkō Tōshō-gūNikko Tosho-guis a Shinto shrine located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu's son Hidetada...
, Futarasan ShrineFutarasan Shrine, also known as Nikkō Futarasan Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. To distinguish it from the shrine in nearby Utsunomiya. It enshrines three deities: Ōkuninushi, Tagorihime, and Ajisukitakahikone....
, and Rinnō-jiRinno-jiis a complex of 15 Buddhist temple buildings in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The site was established in the year 766 by the Buddhist monk, Shōdō. Due to its geographic isolation, deep in the mountains of Japan, the site soon attracted other Buddhist monks in search of solitude. ...
) - Tōshō-gū
- The Three wise monkeysThree wise monkeysThe Three Wise Monkeys , sometimes called the Three Mystic Apes, are a pictorial maxim. Together they embody the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"...
("See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil")
- The Three wise monkeys
- Rinnō-jiRinno-jiis a complex of 15 Buddhist temple buildings in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The site was established in the year 766 by the Buddhist monk, Shōdō. Due to its geographic isolation, deep in the mountains of Japan, the site soon attracted other Buddhist monks in search of solitude. ...
- Taiyū-in Mausoleum
- Shōyō-en GardenShōyō-en Gardenis a Japanese garden located next to the Sanbutsudō Hall of Rinnō-ji Temple in Nikkō. It was constructed in early Edo period, but reformed in the beginning of 19th century. The garden was given its name by a Confucian scholar Issai Sato...
- Futarasan ShrineFutarasan Shrine, also known as Nikkō Futarasan Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. To distinguish it from the shrine in nearby Utsunomiya. It enshrines three deities: Ōkuninushi, Tagorihime, and Ajisukitakahikone....
- Sacred bridge
- Lake ChūzenjiLake Chuzenjiis a scenic lake in Nikkō National Park in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It was created 20,000 years ago when Mount Nantai erupted and blocked the river...
Geography
The post-merger city of Nikkō covers a large area (1,449.87 km²) of rural northwestern Tochigi. It is the third-largest city (by area) in Japan, behind TakayamaTakayama, Gifu
is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of July, 2011 the city has an estimated population of 92,369. The total area is .Takayama was settled as far back as the Jōmon period. Takayama is best known for its inhabitants' expertise in carpentry. It is believed carpenters from Takayama worked on the...
and Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
is a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. On July 1, 2005, the city merged with 11 surrounding cities and towns. It became a city designated by government ordinance on April 1, 2007.- History :...
.
Lake Chūzenji
Lake Chuzenji
is a scenic lake in Nikkō National Park in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It was created 20,000 years ago when Mount Nantai erupted and blocked the river...
and the Kegon Falls
Kegon Falls
are located at Lake Chūzenji in Nikkō National Park near the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The falls were formed when the Daiya River was rerouted by lava flows...
lie in Nikkō, as does the Nikko Botanical Garden
Nikko Botanical Garden
The is a botanical garden operated by the Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, and located at 1842 Hanaishi, Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan, on rolling terrain with streams and ponds at 647 meters above sea level...
. The city's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power. The area has also been used for mining copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, aluminum and concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
.
The weather in Nikkō is fairly similar to that of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
even though it is much closer to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
than Hokkaidō. The elevation of Nikkō plays an important role in this fact. It will usually get cooler as one ascends the mountain. The average temperature of Nikkō is around 7°C (44°F) with the warmest months reaching only about 22°C (72°F) and the coldest reaching down to about -8°C (17°F).
Climate
Nikko experiences a humid continental and hemiboreal climate with cold, snowy winters and predominantly mild, very wet summers. Nikko is situated at an altitude of 1298m above sea level.Sports
Nikkō is the home city to the Nikkō Ice Bucks in the Asia League Ice HockeyAsia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan...
. Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena
Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena
The Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena is an indoor sporting arena in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan. It is primarily used for ice hockey, and is the home arena of Nikkō Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey....
hosted the Women's Ice Hockey World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
(Division I) in April 2007.
External links
- Nikko Tourist Association in Japanese
- Nikko Tourist Association in English
- Nikko City website in English
- Shrines and Temples of Nikko in English
- Early foreign tourist Isabella BirdIsabella BirdIsabella Lucy Bird was a nineteenth-century English explorer, writer, and a natural historian.-Early life:Bird was born in Boroughbridge in 1831 and grew up in Tattenhall, Cheshire...
's report