Nikko

Utsunomiya, may not be one of the most famous cities in Japan, but I do live 30 minutes away from a world heritage site, Nikko Toshogu shrine. The road to get there is quite beautiful in fall. There are also a number of waterfalls in the area.

To create a worthy shrine for the shogun, 15,000 craftsman worked for two years, using 2.5 million sheets of gold leaf.

Unlike most Shinto shrines, characterized by minimalist architecture that blends into its surroundings, Toshogu is a riot of color, gold, and carvings.

One of the most famous elements of Toshogu is the Sacred Stable, where a white imperial horse is kept. The highlight is the carving of three monkeys that spawned the phrase, "Hear no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil." Other famous carvings at Toshogu include a sleeping cat and an odd rendering of an elephant by an artist who had apparently never seen one.