Nikko

So, as many of you know, for my birthday we went to Nikko this past weekend.  Andrew has been unbelievably busy these last few weeks at work and I was very much looking forward to some family time away.  As the week leading up unfolded, it increasingly became evident that this was probably not the best weekend for such a trip.  But, alas we had already paid for alot of it so we stuck to our original plan that was made well over a month ago.

So, off we went with the hope that the forecast of rain all day both days was wrong.
Nikko National Park is a largely mountainous volcanic plateau studded with lakes,waterfalls, hot springs and swamplands.  It is truly beautiful in a very rugged way.

We rented a log cabin just outside the park, which the children loved.  They spent ages exploring the area around us, playing Japanese warrior games and secret missions of the samurai delivering scrolls.  While we were sightseeing, they were begging us to go back to the cabin and play longer.

Saturday we awoke to a steady rain but set off anyway.  We went to the town of Nikko, where, apparently about 1200 yrs ago a formidable Buddhist priest named Shodo Shonin, on his way to Mount Nantai, crossed the Daiyo River and founded the first shrine in this area.  The Shinkyo Bridge which spans the river marks this place.  We then went on to the Tosho-gu shrine.  This shrine seeks to dazzle the eyes.  For 2 yrs some 15000 artisans from all over Japan worked, building, carving, gilting, painting, and lacquering, to create this flowery gorgeous Momoyama-style complex.  It is said to be the most ornate shrine in Japan.

                                          Shinkyo Bridge

The children were cranky and we decided we were wet enough and after a traditional noodles meal, let the children go back to their play in the woods.

The next day took us to Mt. Nantai a beautiful volcano with Lake Chuzen-ji at its foot.  We hiked to several Falls in the area before the fog set in and we had to call it a day.  We will definetely be back, hopefully with more sunshine...

                                         Ryu-zu Falls

                                                        This is a lava bed on Mount Nantai