Countries Of My Life: Nikko: This time, I took the right way :D

Again, I went on my way to Nikko. They say it's better the second time ... and they are right :D
Starting from the station, where I was welcomed by a beautiful dark red tree, it was an awesome trip. My companion was Oliver, so maybe he will stop me if I just get into a bus :D

The tree that welcomed me ;)

Because we were on the way since morning, we decided to have lunch in one of the local restaurants. Okay, many were overpriced, but as always in Japan you find the cheap restaurants with the usually better meals, if you look for them ;)

Gyoza and Ramen are really a good combination :)

Next stop: The Tonshogu Shrine, which was for me the main reason to come here. Because last time ... ahh, you know. If not, just read the last post about Nikko :D
Whatsoever, we went through the streets and then through a little park. The park was quite interesting because many shrines and temples were here close together. Man, in Japan they really use every square millimeter ;)

Found on a parking spot: a small Basin with a Dragon

The way looked on the map much shorter than it was. So after a while, we were finally at the Toshogu Shrine. My first impression was like "Are we right?" But a look at the sign showed us that we were right. Before you actually enter, you have to go through a bigger yard and some stairs upwards.

The yard before the actual Shrine area
At the right side, you can see the 5 Floor Pagoda

And then ... finally inside! It is really a beautiful place where you can relax and have many things and buildings to see. So we started at the front, where the "Three Wise Apes"are. You know them, the ones with "No seeing, no speaking, no hearing". Actually it's "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". This carving is just one of many and tell together a story. They describe the different parts of the life, a monkey goes through. It is really beautiful and a bit humorous. If you have time, come and see it ^^

The Three Wise Apes

If you watch within the shrine closely, many parts seems to be undone. They have some gold color, the rest ist just white. The Shrine is actually under a permanent cycle of restoration. Because he is so big, there is nearly every time something that isn't ready. Even a whole building was covered in a plastic canvas when we were there.

Old and New in one picture

But there are still so many beautiful carvings and details in this shrine. There was a sign which told me that some parts of the shrine have special names and one of them means even if you look at it a lifetime, you will see every time something new. It's like a whole generation of artists has eternalized themselves in this shrine. It's just so huge and there are so many carvings and statues, I cannot imagine how long would just one man had need for this.

How long would you need just for this?

What else besides astonishing beauty? Actually, there are many things. For example: We went into two praying events where the visitors put their shoes out first, then walk a bit in a corridor and finally went into one divined / praying room. A Miko (female medium in Shinto Religion) explained us every time how to pray and we did it like she said. And of course she told us discreet that we can buy talismans (守り) nearby ;)

Inside the Shrine

It was a really special experience to pray (short) with a group of people. In a room, dedicated to a sad dragon (part of a story), we learned that this place was especially built to create a special sound. This was also demonstrated when the guide took two wooden sticks and clashed them into another. The sound itself is hard to describe, it was a deep but also bright tune. But maybe my imagination just messes this around :D

Lamps and Phoenixes

And what is the most important thing by visiting a temple / shrine? Of course, buying stuff ;)
No serious, Oliver and me bought some talismans and other things. (I cannot tell in detail, because Christmas isn't over yet :D) The hardest one for Oliver was the decision between a little golden horse, a little golden sword and a little golden arrow (all just deco). He wanted to buy two of those things, but then he would have to buy the third one too, so he said. But he didn't want to spend so much money and so on and so on. Seriously, it's easier to buy shoes with a woman :D

Tokugawa Ieyasus Grave

We also went to the mortal remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one famous leader of ancient times. On the way we saw a sleeping cat. Not a real one, but a carving which seems to be pretty famous. Actually it's quite, but I don't know the story behind this. Maybe I will find out later what's the meaning of this ;)

Sleeping / Smiling Cat

Kegon Falls

After some hours at the shrine and about 300 pictures later, we went out for the next station: The Kegon Falls. For this, we had to take ... The Bus! As you probably know, my last experience with the local traffic wasn't the best, so this time I was prepared. 1st: I asked the driver, he said yes, we will arrive att Kegon Falls (everything spoken in Japanese), 2nd: I remembered the parking spot from the last time and I knew that the Kegon Fallls are nearby. This time, there was no traffic jam, so the bus actually needed just about 30-40 minutes :)

So we found Kegon Falls and did our duty: Making pictures and videos :D
I was a bit disappointed because there was only a lift downwards and we should pay 500Yen for it which is a bit expensive in my opinion. But we found a shop nearby with some souvenirs / presents, so we spend much more money there :D

Because it already got dark, we just wanted to find a Onsen (Hot Spring) where we could relax from the day. During our search, consisting of following maps and Olivers GPS, we went along the Chuzenji Lake, a really beautiful and big one. It was a bit strange, because there were no people on the streets and nearly everything was closed. So at first I thought we went along the false place. But we actually made it with a few small detours.

Why is the Bear Screaming at the Sign?

In a hotel near the lake, we got into the Onsen pretty cheap (500Yen per person) and it was a natural one. How did we know it? Just one word: Sulfur. Or they put Sulfur into the hot water, but that wouldn't make any sense. Because when you looked at a pipe in the toilets closely, they slowly fused with Sulfur which doesn't seemed to be good. And why would they even add Sulfur in the toilet water? So the whole Onsen used the natural heated water.

At first the smell is really strong. But after a while you adapt to it and I didn't even noticed it after 30 minutes or so. So as every time, you undress, take your towel to the ... wait, did I brought a towel? Dammit! But Oliver helped me out with one of his, Thanks at this place ^^

As I said, you take your towel into the hot spring, or better said two. One bigger one for drying up afterwards and one small one which you wet first and then place it on your head to cool it down. Because you usually stay a longer time in the Hot Spring and it can damage your brain if it gets to hoot.

Chuzenji Lake - It's getting dark oO

Just a Demons Mask
not related to the text ;)

But the most awesome thing was, that the natural hot spring was outside. And it was late dawn and went dark. So we had a really awesome atmosphere. And because after a few minutes, just the two of us were outside, we could use the whole basin. But I personally think Oliver stayed too long in the hot water and his brain was damaged because he started to pose and do some (pseudo-)acrobatic like making a handstand in the water. Or maybe it was the sulfur ...

Anyway, we went afterwards back home. It was a little bit later than we expected, so we had to wait like 40 minutes for the next bus. Luckily, the bus station had a heated waiting room. But of course, we went outside. This time, we experimented with making pictures in the dark, especially the stars. But unfortunately, there were too many street lamps around us, so the result wasn't thaaaat good. But anyway, some pictures actually made it ;)