Nikko Toshogu

Nikko Toshogu was established in 1617 as a mausoleum to enshrine Tokugawa Ieyasu as a deity, symbolizing the power and glory of the Edo shogunate. The magnificent and elaborate shrine buildings as they exist today were completed under the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and are renowned for their famous sculptural carvings of the three monkeys—"see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil." The decorative craftsmanship lavished upon the shrine by master artisans gathered from throughout the country represents the pinnacle of artistic excellence, making it a treasure house of art. The shrine embodies Tokugawa Ieyasu's wish to establish a peaceful world, and it continues to attract numerous worshippers praying for advancement, prosperity, and good fortune. It is truly a sacred place where the history and culture of Japan are condensed.