Nikko

11.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th May 2006

The world-famous Three Monkeys

For my last full day in Japan I headed north out of Tokyo to Nikko which is mainly famous for its temples and shrines and the carving of the Three Wise Monkeys.

The Shinkyo bridge at Nikko

The first thing you see is the Shinkyo bridge which is supposed to have been built where the first monks crossed, but on the back of two snakes.

Temple entrance in Nikko

The main shrine is the Toshogu Shrine which also has the carvings of the Three Wise Monkeys, Sleeping Cat and the painting of the Crying Dragon. The Wise Monkeys were good as was the Crying Dragon but the Sleeping Cat was less so!

A Dragon water feature in Nikko

In the evening I met up with Sean and went up the Mori Tower which has the highest view of Tokyo and was a really nice way to see the last sunset of the trip.