Gōjūnotō

Nikkō


This five-tiered pagoda at Tōshō-gū is an 1819 reconstruction of the mid-17th-century original. Buying a supplementary ticket affords you the chance to peer inside at the innovative earthquake-proof construction but it's dingy and there's not much to see.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nikkō attractions

1. Omote-mon

0.02 MILES

Tōshō-gū's main gateway, protected on either side by Deva kings.

2. Ishi-dorii

0.03 MILES

A towering stone torii (entrance gate) at the head of the stone steps on Omotesandō leading up to Tōshō-gū, burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

3. Shinkyūsha

0.05 MILES

This 'Sacred Stable' building in Tōshō-gū's outer courtyard is crowned with relief carvings of monkeys. The allegorical 'hear no evil, see no evil, speak…

4. Sanjinko

0.06 MILES

In Tōshō-gū's initial courtyard are these 'Three Sacred Storehouses'; on the upper storey of the Kamijinko (upper storehouse) are relief carvings of …

5. Nikkō Tōshō-gū Museum

0.07 MILES

Opened in 2015 for the 400th anniversary of Tokugawa Ieyasu's death, this modern building behind Rinnō-ji contains artefacts relating to the shogun,…

6. Yōmei-mon

0.08 MILES

Adorned in gold leaf and some 500 carved images depicting folk tales, mythical beasts and Chinese sages, the 'Sunset Gate' is the most revered traditional…

7. Tōshō-gū

0.1 MILES

Tōshō-gū is Nikkō's biggest attraction, a shrine to the powerful shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616). No expense was spared: when the original structure …

8. Honji-dō

0.1 MILES

To the west of Tōshō-gū's drum tower is this hall known for the painting on its ceiling of the Nakiryū (Crying Dragon). Monks demonstrate the hall's…