NIKKŌ is so simply unforgettable (click).

Stunning.

One of Our World Legends and Heritage Sites.

A unique locale that provides direct links to both

Urbanisation and Nature.

 

The Mountains that so surround, the Waters that then run through

feeding the Lands beyond.

Rivers channelled into meandering gorges as it thus descends,..

an overall atmosphere of Life is so created.

 

Waterfalls that breach and wear down the jagged rock walls.

 

 

Various volcanic actions over the past,..

…help shape these natural features too.

 

Hot natural Mineral Springs emerge alongside the cool free flowing.

Appropriate background Music,.. below.

 

(Music Link)

 

Waterfalls that link and help co-create Natural Wonder-Lands therein.

A prime example of Mother Nature and her forces (click).

One of Our World Legends.

 

日光

 

 

NIKKO.

THE LANDSCAPE…

… that unfolded before me… caused my mouth… to fill with water.

 

 

 

Simply cos,.. mouth…

…twas open in a gape of wonderment.

Head and eyes tilted up for a full view… and…

 

…twas raining…

…in my mouth… elsewhere as well.

 

In NIKKO.

 

 

 

 

After a longish Train Ride vis the JR Line (click) then the Local (click) (…refer pics 4+5th above…);

NIKKO.

 

Shrouded in fog, mist… and rain.

Stunning.

 

Stunned… i, Shiro was… indeed… in deed and in fact… as well.

 

THE STUNNING OF Shiro SLIDESHOW: NIKKO.

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Though alone… standing there in… mid-gape… twas not indeed.

Not alone… at all.

 

Though the Train Ride may have had me sentimental… and a lil’ tired.

Still I stared… and soaked.

 

In NIKKO.

In the rain.

 

As had many others… before,.. and hopefully… after.

 

 

Long recognised and immortalised in print, paint and so forth.

NIKKO… in the rain.

 

A Gift of Nature.

 

The World Heritage peeps… agree… too (click).

Many many others… as well.

A Place of LEGENDS indeed it seems.

 

THE LEGENDS…

…The SHRINES…The TEMPLE.

The combination of two SHINTO Shrines and a BUDDHIST Temple environ complex houses some one hundred plus buildings of typical JAPANESE EDO design and architecture.

Mainly 17th Century.

Impeccably and constantly maintained and cared for.

 

Shrines of FUTARASAN-JINJA and TÔSHÔ-GÛ.

RINNÔ-JI Temple.

 

 

 

The layout of the buildings on the Mounts achieves an enhancing of the visuals immensely.

The olden and original buildings were laid out on the Sacred Mount by Buddhist Priests + co.,.. as far back as the 8th Century according to the LEGENDS. Integration with the outlying Forest areas is practically done with great effect.

A respectful veneration of Earth, Nature and HuMan… too.

 

The entire Complex and Trusteeship applied steadfastly retains and maintains a very high level of authenticity especially in terms of Building form/design, materials/substance, traditions/techniques, location/setting, and function and so forth. Records of work and maintenance are still… maintained.

 

 

Simply stunning.

LEGENDs indeed.

 

 

The RED GATE.

 

The Governmental Regime/System of the TOKUGAWAS of Japan resonate deeply within the Region.

From the early 1500’s and the rise of the First SHOGUN (click).

TOKUGAWA IEYASU… 1543-1616.

 

Perhaps not widely known is also the deep association this Govt. had with the SHINOBI of Yore.

NINPO LEGENDS herein tell of this time as a boon for NINJA and KUNOICHI alike (click).

 

 

This rather progressive Govt. System understood the advantages of assimilating NINPO Concepts.

Many Security Type issues were addressed by letting the hired SHINOBI… address the issue as well.

 

Police Forces, Guards for Castles and Patrols, Bodyguards for Travellers and Criminal Investigations all soon came under the NINPO scrutiny per se. Many of the Communities were secured by and using NINPO Tech. and Concepts.

The Arsenal of Weapons and Forms for the POLICE, ARMED FORCES and SECURITY OPS were all updated and added to… too.

 

 

Examples included THE JUTTE ( 十手 ) and  HOJOJUTSU ( 捕縄術 ),.. (click) the Arts and Traditions of Rope-Tying… (click) useful to ensure a somewhat more passive criminal transport method and aid.

For a while… till the next Govt. System anyways.

 

 

(…BTW… A RANT… The Community that developed sometimes referred to as a Feudal Dictatorship or Police State by denigrators and misguided solely Samurai admirers is FAR LESS SO THAN THE CURRENT ONE(s) DEVELOPING…

…OFT BY YOUR/THEIR COUNTRY’s CONTROLLERS…

…WITH THEIR HI TECH MASS SURVEILLANCE AND TERROR…(click)…

…AS THE EXCUSE TO AVOID INDIVIDUAL RESPECT AND PRIVACY AND THEIR OWN CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS USUALLY ALSO.

 

YOU ARE WATCHED… ALWAYS HERE.

 

THAT’S THE NATURE… AND REALITY OF THIS TECH. IF THEY WANNA TRACK YOU ETC… THEY CAN… (click) YOU HOWEVER CANNOT… UNLESS YOU ARE REALLY REALLY COMPUTER SAVVY AND CAREFUL… TOO (click).

Such things NEVER possible in the Past to such a degree.

REALITY… ENJOY… or not (click).)

 

In those days of Yore,.. criminal and political foes the main targets… NOT THE PEEPS.

SHINOBI Style.

 

Adapted by the TOKUGAWA SHOGUNS it seems indeed,..

…in deed and in fact… too.

 

 

The RED Color used herein the NIKKO TEMPLES and associated structures is symbolic.

SACRED per se.

 

A representation thereof.

 

The use of the RED and DIVINE GOLD prevails.

The Lacquer Tech. ensures long lasting shine and allure.

 

Still…

…stunning indeed.

 

 

FESTIVAL OF THE BOW. 

 

Known as MUSHA-SAI,.. this Festival is ALL about the BOW + ARROW WAYS (click).

A celebration, memorial and dedication to it’s repeated links in important events of Japan’s History and Traditions.

The SACRED BOW.

 

Demonstrated KYOTO Version… below.

 

(Video Link)

 

The WAYS of the BOW + ARROW are an integral part of the Origins and LEGENDS of Japan,..

…and many other Countries… also.

 

Cultures and Civilisations Worldwide have put such… to much… use.

Prior to the GUNNERY WEAPONRY… some of the ELITE Troops were they.

 

LEGENDS. ALL.

 

 

 

 

The SACRED BRIDGE.

Shiro’s journey to the Sacred Bridge of SHINKYŌ… actually,..

…began in… HOLLAND (click).

 

(Music Link)

 

By now… Shiro was not alone… anymore.

 

A Dutch Traveller and Water-Lover with a KYLIE MINOGUE esque Look and a… Boy’s name as a nick-name.

Sounded like;..

José.?.Yosé.?.

 

…or Josie.?. had crossed paths and ways… along the way.

At the TURTLE INN… where both had their Home (click).

 

Anyways… ahead… A BRIDGE… IN RED THAT IS (click).

That both wanted to see… on a night like this…

…or that,..

 

…which is lit up by Moon-Light, that is… so did.

 

 

SHINKYŌ… 神橋

The SACRED BRIDGE thereof.

 

Saw the Waters… too.

José/Josie liked that… a lot.

Then… sang the below… and so forth.

With accompanying… movements… also.

 

Stunning… as well.

 

Locomotion. Done well indeed.

Shiro… stunned… all round indeed.

 

(Music Link)

 

Fit not for a TRAIN or LOCOMOTIVE… but for an EMPEROR…

…and in a certain time and place of Yore…

This SACRED BRIDGE was;..

 

…Legally decreed only,.. for such peeps feet to bear.

 

A RED Lacquered Structure that spans the DAIYA River.

The LEGENDS tell of it’s formation when a SACRED HERMIT needed to cross the then raging Waters.

Two SACRED SERPENTS appeared and with mystical movements spanned the River forming a path for the HERMIT to follow a journey further into the SACRED MOUNT.

 

SSStunning Serpents… it seems… too.

 

 

Sayeth Shiro herein;.. …go get… STUNNED.

 

In NIKKO.

 

 

Fog, Mist and Rain… or not.

One of Nature’s Wonders.

A must-see for those,.. Japan bound indeed.

 

The stuff of Our World LEGENDS.

…and…

The stuff of Dreams.

 

 

 

 

I Dream of NINJA…

 

 

(……i still… prefer the rain but.!.)

Till next…