Futarasan Shrine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Futarasan Shrine (二荒山神社 Futarasan Jinja?) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. To distinguish it from the shrine in nearby Utsunomiya, it is also called Nikkō Futarasan Shrine. It enshrines three deities: Ōkuninushi, Tagorihime, and Ajisukitakahikone. It was founded in 767 by Shōdō shōnin (勝道上人).
Futarasan Shrine is located between Tōshōgū and Taiyū-in Mausoleum. Many visitors go to all three, as well as Rinnō-ji.
Together with Nikkō Tōshō-gū and Rinnō-ji, it forms the Temples and Shrines of Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site. The shrine possesses two swords that are National treasures of Japan. Additionally, dozens of buildings and cultural artifacts are listed as Important Cultural Assets.
The Sacred Bridge (神橋 shinkyō?) crossing the Daiya River belongs to the Futarasan Shrine.
 Building (probably haiden) |
 Building housing mikoshi |
 Hie Shrine |
 Chinese-style lantern, the Bake-doro ("Ghost Lantern") |
 Daikoku-den 大黒殿 |
 Mitomo Jinja |
 Other buildings at Futarasan Shrine |
 The gate leads to the precincts of the shrine |
[edit] External links
- UNESCO document: Advisory Body Evaluation
- Futarasan Shrine official Web site
- Tochigi Jinja-chō
- Nikkō National Park official Web site
