Futarasan Shrine

Overview

Futarasan Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, and claims the title of ichinomiya of the former Shimotsuke Province. Its formal name is simply "Futarasan Jinja," but the place name "Nikkō" is added to distinguish it from the Utsunomiya Futarayama Jinja, which shares the same kanji. It was historically known as "Nikkō Sanja Gongen."

Highlights

• ●The main shrine stands between Nikkō Tōshō-gū and the Taiyū-in Mausoleum, and many visitors combine it with the surrounding sites
• ●It comprises geographically separate sections, including a middle shrine on the shore of Lake Chūzenji and an inner shrine at the summit of Mount Nantai
• ●The shrine possesses two swords designated National Treasures of Japan, along with many buildings and artifacts listed as Important Cultural Properties
• ●The Shinkyō bridge crosses the Daiya River near the precincts

History

The shrine is rooted in the veneration of the surrounding mountains, and its name derives from Futarasan, an alternative name for Mount Nantai. Together with the precincts of Tōshō-gū and Rinnō-ji, its grounds are designated a National Historic Site. It is also inscribed as part of the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Map

36.7589, 139.5964 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Visit the main shrine between Tōshō-gū and the Taiyū-in Mausoleum
2. 2Combine the visit with the surrounding shrines and temples
3. 3View the scenery around the Daiya River, including the Shinkyō bridge
4. 4Continue to the middle shrine on the shore of Lake Chūzenji

Did you know?

💡 The shrine's name derives from Futarasan, an alternative name for Mount Nantai.

Nearby spots