ABOUT
About this spot
Nikko Futarasan Shrine stands among the temples and shrines of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. It enshrines three deities collectively called Futarasan no Okami, namely Onamuchi no Mikoto (Mt. Nantai), Tagorihime no Mikoto (Mt. Nyoho) and Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto (Mt. Taro), with Mt. Nantai as the object of worship. The shrine has three parts: the main shrine west of Nikko Toshogu, Chuguji on the shore of Lake Chuzenji, and the Okumiya on the summit of Mt. Nantai. It was inscribed in 1999 as part of "Shrines and Temples of Nikko." The shrine goes back to the monk Shodo. Tradition says the monk Shodo built a shrine to the deity of Mt. Nantai in 767 (on the site of today's Hongu Shrine), the Okumiya in 782 and Chuguji in 784. The present main shrine moved to its site in 1617, when Toshogu was built. Nikko flourished as a center of mountain asceticism, and after Toshogu was built in the Edo period the shrine received strong support from the shogunate and daimyo. It lost its lands after siding with the Later Hojo clan against Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It became a national shrine in 1873. The main hall, built in the hachimune-zukuri style, and the worship hall are among 11 structures, including the Shinkyo bridge, designated Important Cultural Properties. The bronze lantern Bakedoro dates from 1292 and still bears sword marks. The Shinen garden has the five Shinen shrines including Hoyu Shrine, Daikokuden and Hie Shrine. The vermilion Shinkyo bridge over the Daiya River is counted among Japan's three strange bridges; the present bridge dates from 1904. Two swords are designated National Treasures. Spring greenery, autumn leaves and winter snow all suit the cedar-shaded precinct; mornings are calmer. Allow about an hour. The Mt. Nantai climb starts at Chuguji and is a full-scale mountain hike. From JR Nikko or Tobu Nikko Station take the World Heritage Tour loop bus. Nikko Toshogu is about 240 m away and Kegon Falls about 9 km.
Last updated October 18, 2026