Shrines and Temples of Nikkō


The UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō encompasses 103 buildings or structures and the natural setting around them. It is located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The buildings belong to two Shinto shrines and one Buddhist temple. Nine of the structures are designated National Treasures of Japan while the remaining 94 are Important Cultural Properties. UNESCO listed the site as World Heritage in 1999.

Nominated properties

Futarasan Shrine

23 structures of the Futarasan Shrine are included in the nomination. All are registered Important Cultural Properties. They are:
NameRemarksAgePicture
HondenMain building enshrining the three deities of the Futarasan shrine.1619
KaramonGate in front of the Honden.1603early Edo period
WakimonGate of the Sukibe.1603early Edo period
SukibeRoofed wall enclosing the Honden.1603early Edo period
HaidenWorship hall.1645
ToriiCopper torii marking the entrance to the shrine.1799
ShinkyōWooden arched bridge.1904
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja HondenBuilding enshrining Tagorihime no Mikoto.1713-
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja KaramonGate of the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Honden.1740-
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja HaidenWorship hall.1713c. 1713
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja RōmonGate to the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja.1697
Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Torii Stone torii at the approach to the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja marking the sacred area.1696, 1779
Betsugū Hongū-jinja HondenBuilding enshrining Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto.1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja KaramonGate in front of the Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden.1685c. 1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja SukibeRoofed wall enclosing the Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden.1685c. 1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja HaidenWorship hall.1685
Betsugū Hongū-jinja ToriiStone torii at the approach to the Betsugū Hongū-jinja marking the sacred area.1800
Shin-yoshaStorehouse for mikoshi, portable shrines.1641
DaikokudenBuilding enshrining Ōkuninushi no Mikoto.1745
Massha Mitomo-jinja HondenBuilding enshrining Sukunabikona no Mikoto.1751c. 1751–1761
Massha Hie-jinja HondenBuilding enshrining Ōyamakui no Mikoto.1648c. 1648–1651

Tōshō-gū 東照宮

42 buildings of the Tōshō-gū shrine are included in the nomination. Eight structures are registered National Treasures of Japan and 34 are Important Cultural Properties.
NameRemarksAgePicture
Honden, Ishinoma, HaidenHonden: Building enshrining the deified image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tōshō Daigongen.
Ishinoma: Chamber connecting Honden and Haiden.
Haiden: Worship hall.
1636
Shōmen KaramonGate in front of Haiden. Third gate.1636
Haimen KaramonGate behind Honden.1636
Tōzai SukibeRoofed wall enclosing Honden, Ishinoma and Haiden.1636
YōmeimonTwo-storied gate. Second gate.1636
Tōzai Kairō and KugurimonRoofed cloisters enclosing shrine buildings.1636
KamishamushoBuilding for Shinto services.1636
KaguradenBuilding for the Kagura ritual.1603early Edo period
Shin-yoshaStorehouse for mikoshi, portable shrines.1636
ShōrōBelfry1636
KorōStorehouse for drums.1636
HonjidōBuilding enshrining Yakushi, the healing Buddha.1636
KyōzōStorehouse for sutras.1636
KamijinkoStorehouse.1603early Edo period
NakajinkoStorehouse.1603early Edo period
ShimojinkoStorehouse.1603early Edo period
MizuyaStone building sheltering the water basin.1636
ShinkyūStable for sacred horses.1636
OmotemonFirst gate.1636
GojūnotōFive-storied pagoda.1818
IshidoriiStone torii at front approach.1618
SakashitamonGate at the entrance to the Okusha.1636
Okusha HōtōBuilding enshrining the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu.1683
Okusha KaramonGate in front of the Hōtō.1650
Okusha IshitamagakiStonewall enclosing the Okusha.1603early Edo period
Okusha HaidenWorship hall.1636
Okusha DōjinkoTreasure storehouse.1654
Okusha ToriiCopper torii at the front approach to the Okusha.1683c. 1683
Okusha SekisakuStone fence along the front approach.1603early Edo period
Kariden Honden, Ainoma, HaidenHonden: Building enshrining the deified image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tōshō Daigongen in case of repair works on the main Honden.

Ainoma: Building connecting the Honden and Haiden.
Haiden: Worship hall.
1639
Kariden KaramonGate in front of the Kariden Honden.1603early Edo period
Kariden SukibeRoofed wall enclosing the Kariden Honden.1603early Edo period
Kariden WakimonGate of the Kariden Sukibe.1603early Edo period
Kariden ToriiCopper torii at the front approach to the Kariden Honden.1603early Edo period
Kariden ShōrōBelfry.1603early Edo period
Otabisho HondenBuilding used in the Togyosai festival.1685
Otabisho HaidenWorship hall used in the Togyosai festival.1685c. 1685
Otabisho ShinsenjoBuilding where sacred food is prepared during the Togyosai festival.1685c. 1685
Kyūokusha KaramonStone gate of the Kyūokusha. Reconstructed in a new location after destruction in an earthquake.1641
Kyūokusha ToriiTorii of the Kyūokusha. Reconstructed in a new location after destruction in an earthquake.1641

Rinnō-ji

38 buildings of Rinnō-ji temple are included in the nomination. One structure, comprising the Honden, Ainoma and Haiden of the Taiyuin Mausoleum, is a registered National Treasure of Japan and 37 are Important Cultural Properties.
NameRemarksAgePicture
Hon-dō Buddha hall.1647
SōrintōCopper sutra repository tower.1643
Hombō OmotemonFront gate of the Hombō.1700mid Edo period
KaizandōFounder's hall dedicated to the priest Shōdō.1720c. 1720
JōgyōdōBuddha hall enshrining Amida Nyorai.1649
HokkedōBuddha hall enshrining Shaka Nyorai.1649
Jōgyōdō Hokkedō WatarirōRoofed corridor between Hokkedō and Watarirō.1649
Jigendō ByōdōBuilding enshrining the remains of the priest Tenkai.1603early Edo period
Jigendō HaidenBuilding for worshipping Jigendō.1649
Jigendō KyōzōStorehouse for documents collected by the priest Tenkai.1603early Edo period
Jigendō ShōrōBelfry.1603early Edo period
Jigendō AmidadōBuddha hall enshrining Amida Nyorai.1603early Edo period
KodamadōBuddha hall enshrining Kodama.1603early Edo period
GohōtendōBuddha hall enshrining Bishamonten, Benzaiten and Daikokuten.1615c. 1615–1623
KannondōBuddha hall enshrining Kanzeon Bosatsu.1685
SanjūnotōThree-storied pagoda.1685
Taiyuin Mausoleum : Honden, Ainoma and HaidenHonden: Building enshrining Taiyū-in, the deified image of Tokugawa Iemitsu.
Ainoma: Chamber connecting the Honden and Haiden.
Haiden: Worship hall.
1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō KaramonGate in front of the Taiyū-in Reibyō.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō MizugakiRoofed wall enclosing the Taiyū-in Reibyō Honden and other structures.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō WakamonGate of the Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizugaki.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō GokūshoBuilding used for preparing sacred food.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Gokūsho WatarirōRoofed corridor between the Honden and Gokūsho.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō YashamonThird gate.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Yashamon Sayū KairōRoofed corridors on both sides of the Yashamon.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō ShōrōBelfry.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō KorōStorehouse for drums.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō NitemmonSecond gate.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō SaijōLavatory for ritual use.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō MizuyaStone column building sheltering the water basin.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō HōkoStorehouse.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō NiōmonFirst gate.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō KōkamonGate at the entrance to the Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Dōzutsumi HōzōCopper-plated storehouse.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in HōtōBuilding enshrining the remains of Tokugawa Iemitsu.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in InukimonCopper gate in front of the Hōtō.1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in HaidenWorship hall1653
Taiyū-in Reibyō Bettōsho Ryūkō-inManagement building for Taiyū-in.1700mid Edo period

Cultural Landscape

Included in the nomination are the forested mountain slopes on which the buildings are located. The dominating cedar forest was planted in the early 17th century during the construction of the Tōshō-gū. The area where buildings are located is designated as Historic Site. Other parts of the Cultural Landscape are protected within the Nikkō National Park.