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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Nikko Shrine: Japan's Spiritual Window


Japan’s attraction to the other peoples of the world comes from the fact that it features a healthy mix of the old and the modern, weaved within a natural confluence of the Western and Eastern influences. Here’s how it normally goes: as one enters Japan’s doors, the air of the first world automatically embraces him. But as he settles down, he’ll be enticed by an air so different – a soft whisper from the country’s spiritual past, a slight tap from its religious core.

Thus, a visit to Japan is not complete unless one pays homage to the temples and shrines that can be found in almost every corner. And if one wants the badge of a true-blue tourist, then the NikkoToshugu Shrine should never be missed, as it is a shrine far more grand and lavish than the other temples around (where the stress is on simplicity and austerity).

In 1999, the Shrine was listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. With the inscription, the world body acknowledged the temple-builders’ architectural and artistic genius (eastern baroque, some would say) and recognized the sensitivity that inspired the harmonious integration of the man-made structures with the natural requirements of the forest that hosts it. Aside from being the mausoleum for the shogun who commissioned it’s erection, it is after-all Shinto temple where premium is placed on man’s close relationship with nature.


33 comments:

Turismoboi said...

nice pictures

owenandbenjamin said...

These are some great photographs. Nikko is one of my favorite places in Japan. Both for the natural setting and also due to the history.

Ely said...

Nature is part of their culture and I admire them on how they maintain and preserve a green environment.

atto aryo said...

turismo: thanks!

atto aryo said...

tornadoes: are you still here? nikko was indeed great. we were there for just one afternoon kaya di namin talaga nalibot.

atto aryo said...

ely: i really salute the government and the people here for their love for nature. must be because of their religion.

atto aryo said...

Tornadoes: sorry, i thought you were Filipino. Was just saying that we only had one afternoon in Nikko - not enough to really tour it.

Oman said...

ibang level ka na panyero.

always beautiful and always sharp. thank you for the journey. great job.

pamatayhomesick said...

pards! ang ganda ng travel mo...wish ko lang dumating sakin yang ganyang pagkakataon...ang galing pards!

rheiboy17 said...

nice pictures. pro!
japan is indeed a mix of past,present and things to come.

atto aryo said...

lawstude: madami pang bigas na kakainin, Nyero. Malayo pa sa level mo. :-)

atto aryo said...

ever: baka naman sabihin mong di na ko nagtatrabaho nyan. mga side trip lang po ito. he he

atto aryo said...

rheiboy: salamat. yup, and im lucky to see at least a portion of it.

Oreste said...

A salute from Rome. Ciao

atto aryo said...

thanks oreste!

carlotta1924 said...

isa sa mga reasons kung bakit gusto kong pumunta ng japan ay dahil napakaganda ng mga parks, shrines, basta lahat ng japan hehehe =)

ganda-ganda ng mga pics! =)

sexymoi said...

ang ganda ng pictures...ganda ng puno.

galing ni atty :)

Nyl said...

ang sarap talagang mag-travel...we learn to appreacite even more the wonder of the world.

i love your photos esp. the three monkeys.:)

thanks for the hop!

gillboard said...

looking at remnants of ancient japan is always interesting...

if only it weren't expensive to go to that country, matagal na siguro akong nakavisit dyan

KRIS JASPER said...

those monkeys reminded me of my post 2 weeks ago.

cool travel photos my friend.
I wish i cud visit that place soon.

Gina said...

Very interesting ...

And the pictures you took are beautiful. Mukhang nagiging pro-quality na ang pix mo ah.

Dakilang Islander said...

yong mga photos ikaw ba kumuha lahat? ang ganda na ng mga kuha mo ha mukhang sanay ka na jan sa camera mo

escape said...

im always amazed with their culture. truly beautiful.

GingGoy said...

enticing! cebupac just opened their flights to Osaka, hope they also open in tokyo so I can avail of the low fares :P

totomai said...

japanese has a very rich tradition. kaya tayo, lahat ng chance na masaksihan natin habang dito tayo, go lang hehe

atto aryo said...

carlotta: some wishes do come true. see you here soon... :-)

atto aryo said...

sexymoi: salamat. maniniwala muna ako. yaiks! :-)

atto aryo said...

nyl: the monkeys are familiar right? they're a representation of "hear no evil, talk no evil, see no evil".

atto aryo said...

kris: what post? the one with the pic of believe or not? he he

atto aryo said...

gina: actually, very frustrated ako sa pics ko. kailangan ko ng professional tutor, he he.

atto aryo said...

dakila: di mo lang alam kung ilan ang wasted, he he. thanks to the wonders of the gigabyte memory, he he.

atto aryo said...

tutubi: the rates to osaka are quite affordable. 2 hours lang naman, tokyo na. Go na! :-)

ScIoN said...

Baka Mt. Nantai yung tinutukoy mong bundok?