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 (Futarasan Shrine and Tōshō-gū) and one Buddhist temple (Rinnō-ji). Nine of the structures are designated National Treasures of Japan while the remaining 94 are Important Cultural Properties. UNESCO listed the site as World Heritage in 1999.^[1][2]

Shrines and Temples of Nikko

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location	Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Kantō region, Japan
Criteria	Cultural: (i), (iv), (vi)
Reference	913
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)
Area	50.8 ha (126 acres)
Buffer zone	373.2 ha (922 acres)
Coordinates	36°45′23″N 139°35′58″E

Nominated properties

Futarasan Shrine

23 structures of the Futarasan Shrine are included in the nomination. All are registered Important Cultural Properties. They are:^[2]

Name	Remarks	Age	Picture
Honden	Main building enshrining the three deities of the Futarasan shrine.	1619
Karamon	Gate in front of the Honden.	1603early Edo period
Wakimon	Gate of the Sukibe.	1603early Edo period
Sukibe	Roofed wall enclosing the Honden.	1603early Edo period
Haiden	Worship hall.	1645
Torii	Copper torii marking the entrance to the shrine.	1799
Shinkyō	Wooden arched bridge.	1904
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Honden	Building enshrining Tagorihime no Mikoto.	1713
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Karamon	Gate of the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Honden.	1740
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Haiden	Worship hall.	1713c. 1713
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Rōmon	Gate to the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja.	1697
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Torii (3 structures)	Stone torii at the approach to the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja marking the sacred area.	1696, 1779
Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden	Building enshrining Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto.	1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja Karamon	Gate in front of the Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden.	1685c. 1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja Sukibe	Roofed wall enclosing the Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden.	1685c. 1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja Haiden	Worship hall.	1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja Torii	Stone torii at the approach to the Betsugū Hongū-jinja marking the sacred area.	1800
Shin-yosha	Storehouse for mikoshi, portable shrines.	1641
Daikokuden	Building enshrining Ōkuninushi no Mikoto.	1745
Massha Mitomo-jinja Honden	Building enshrining Sukunabikona no Mikoto.	1751c. 1751–1761
Massha Hie-jinja Honden	Building enshrining Oyamakui no Mikoto.	1648c. 1648–1651

Tōshō-gū 東照宮

42 buildings of the Tōshō-gū shrine are included in the nomination. Eight structures are registered National Treasures of Japan and 34 are Important Cultural Properties.^[2]

Name	Remarks	Age	Picture
Honden, Ishinoma, Haiden	Honden: Building enshrining the deified image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tōshō Daigongen. Ishinoma: Chamber connecting Honden and Haiden. Haiden: Worship hall.	1636
Shōmen Karamon	Gate in front of Haiden. Third gate.	1636
Haimen Karamon	Gate behind Honden.	1636
Tōzai Sukibe	Roofed wall enclosing Honden, Ishinoma and Haiden.	1636
Yōmeimon	Two-storied gate. Second gate.	1636
Tōzai Kairō and Kugurimon	Roofed cloisters enclosing shrine buildings.	1636
Kamishamusho	Building for Shinto services.	1636
Kaguraden	Building for the Kagura ritual.	1603early Edo period
Shin-yosha	Storehouse for mikoshi, portable shrines.	1636
Shōrō	Belfry	1636
Korō	Storehouse for drums.	1636
Honjidō	Building enshrining Yakushi, the healing Buddha.	1636
Kyōzō	Storehouse for sutras.	1636
Kamijinko	Storehouse.	1603early Edo period
Nakajinko	Storehouse.	1603early Edo period
Shimojinko	Storehouse.	1603early Edo period
Mizuya	Stone building sheltering the water basin.	1636
Shinkyū	Stable for sacred horses.	1636
Omotemon	First gate.	1636
Gojūnotō	Five-storied pagoda.	1818
Ishidorii	Stone torii at front approach.	1618
Sakashitamon	Gate at the entrance to the Okusha.	1636
Okusha Hōtō	Building enshrining the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu.	1683
Okusha Karamon	Gate in front of the Hōtō.	1650
Okusha Ishitamagaki	Stonewall enclosing the Okusha.	1603early Edo period
Okusha Haiden	Worship hall.	1636
Okusha Dōjinko	Treasure storehouse.	1654
Okusha Torii	Copper torii at the front approach to the Okusha.	1683c. 1683
Okusha Sekisaku	Stone fence along the front approach.	1603early Edo period
Kariden Honden, Ainoma, Haiden	Honden: Building enshrining the deified image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tōshō Daigongen in case of repair works on the main Honden. Ainoma: Building connecting the Honden and Haiden. Haiden: Worship hall.	1639
Kariden Karamon	Gate in front of the Kariden Honden.	1603early Edo period
Kariden Sukibe	Roofed wall enclosing the Kariden Honden.	1603early Edo period
Kariden Wakimon	Gate of the Kariden Sukibe.	1603early Edo period
Kariden Torii	Copper torii at the front approach to the Kariden Honden.	1603early Edo period
Kariden Shōrō	Belfry.	1603early Edo period
Otabisho Honden	Building used in the Togyosai festival.	1685
Otabisho Haiden	Worship hall used in the Togyosai festival.	1685c. 1685
Otabisho Shinsenjo	Building where sacred food is prepared during the Togyosai festival.	1685c. 1685
Kyūokusha Karamon	Stone gate of the Kyūokusha. Reconstructed in a new location after destruction in an earthquake.	1641
Kyūokusha Torii	Torii of the Kyūokusha. Reconstructed in a new location after destruction in an earthquake.	1641

Rinnō-ji

38 buildings of Rinnō-ji temple are included in the nomination. One structure, comprising the Honden, Ainoma and Haiden of the Taiyuin Mausoleum, is a registered National Treasure of Japan and 37 are Important Cultural Properties.^[2]

Name	Remarks	Age	Picture
Hon-dō (Sanbutsudō)	Buddha hall.	1647
Sōrintō	Copper sutra repository tower.	1643
Hombō Omotemon	Front gate of the Hombō.	1700mid Edo period
Kaizandō	Founder's hall dedicated to the priest Shōdō.	1720c. 1720
Jōgyōdō	Buddha hall enshrining Amida Nyorai.	1649
Hokkedō	Buddha hall enshrining Shaka Nyorai.	1649
Jōgyōdō Hokkedō Watarirō	Roofed corridor between Hokkedō and Watarirō.	1649
Jigendō Byōdō	Building enshrining the remains of the priest Tenkai.	1603early Edo period
Jigendō Haiden	Building for worshipping Jigendō.	1649
Jigendō Kyōzō	Storehouse for documents collected by the priest Tenkai.	1603early Edo period
Jigendō Shōrō	Belfry.	1603early Edo period
Jigendō Amidadō	Buddha hall enshrining Amida Nyorai.	1603early Edo period
Kodamadō	Buddha hall enshrining Kodama.	1603early Edo period
Gohōtendō	Buddha hall enshrining Bishamonten, Benzaiten and Daikokuten.	1615c. 1615–1623
Kannondō	Buddha hall enshrining Kanzeon Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara Kṣitigarbha).	1685
Sanjūnotō	Three-storied pagoda.	1685
Taiyuin Mausoleum (Taiyū-in Reibyō): Honden, Ainoma and Haiden	Honden: Building enshrining Taiyū-in, the deified image of Tokugawa Iemitsu. Ainoma: Chamber connecting the Honden and Haiden. Haiden: Worship hall.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Karamon	Gate in front of the Taiyū-in Reibyō.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizugaki	Roofed wall enclosing the Taiyū-in Reibyō Honden and other structures.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Wakamon	Gate of the Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizugaki.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Gokūsho	Building used for preparing sacred food.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Gokūsho Watarirō	Roofed corridor between the Honden and Gokūsho.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Yashamon	Third gate.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Yashamon Sayū Kairō	Roofed corridors on both sides of the Yashamon.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Shōrō	Belfry.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Korō	Storehouse for drums.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Nitemmon	Second gate.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Saijō	Lavatory for ritual use.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizuya	Stone column building sheltering the water basin.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Hōko	Storehouse.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Niōmon	First gate.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Kōkamon	Gate at the entrance to the Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Dōzutsumi Hōzō	Copper-plated storehouse.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in Hōtō	Building enshrining the remains of Tokugawa Iemitsu.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in Inukimon	Copper gate in front of the Hōtō.	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in Haiden	Worship hall	1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Bettōsho Ryūkō-in	Management building for Taiyū-in.	1700mid Edo period

Cultural Landscape

Included in the nomination are the forested mountain slopes on which the buildings are located. The dominating cedar forest was planted in the early 17th century during the construction of the Tōshō-gū. The area where buildings are located is designated as Historic Site. Other parts of the Cultural Landscape are protected within the Nikkō National Park.^[1]

See also

• Tourism in Japan
• List of World Heritage Sites in Japan