Shirakawago/ Nikko

Shirakawago

Q. It seems that the Hida Highlands area has a feeling of a fairly tale. What is the scenery like?

A.The scenery of the mountain villages with their traditional houses standing side-by-side is like a fairytale. 

Q. Why do the roofs of Shirakawago have slopes ?

A. To allow the heavy snow to slide off more easily.

Q. If we make a trip there in early November, what can we expect to see?

A.You might catch the particularly wet annual tradition of jets of water spouting from firehoses simultaneously in preparation for fighting any winter fires.

Q. Are there any places to watch all these gassho-zukuri houses? 

A. Head to the observatory at the site of Ogimachi Castle and view the whole of Shirakawa-go Ogimachi village, a cluster of 59 houses, from above. 

Q. When were the Hida Highlands registered as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites?

A. They were registered in 1995.

Nikko

Q. What is Tokugawa Ieyasu like?

A. Tokugawa Ieyasu (ruling from 1603 to 1605) was the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate and is credited with bringing 300 years of peace and stability to the country after a long period of regional conflict.

Q. How many 

A. As many as 127,000 craftsmen were involved in constructing the shrine memorializing him using 

Q. What is the name of the shrine establish by the monk Shodo Shonin?

A. Its name is Futarasasn-jinja Shrine , Rinnoji Temple was also founded by Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin

Q. What is unique about Nikko Toshogu Shrine?

A. You can see a sleeping cat, three monkeys striking "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil" poses, and a strangely shaped elephant—carved purely from imagination. These are Kunozan Toshogu Shrine's most famous carvings.

Q. The 28-meter-long Shinkyo Bridge serves as the sacred entrance to Nikko . 

A. The structure is known as one of the top three bridges in the country, and the vermilion-lacquered arch surrounded by lush foliage and a serene river makes for a particularly beautiful photo.

Q. What is Rinnoji Shrine like?

A. The temple complex showcases numerous artifacts and monuments, a Japanese style garden, and gold lacquered statues of three Kannon deities.