NIKKŌ | Voyage au fil des Temples et Sanctuaires classés au Patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO

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Nikkō, ville inscrite au Patrimoine Mondial de l'UNESCO se trouve à deux petites heures de Tōkyō. On peut facilement y apprécier la nature, les sources sources chaudes, les stations touristiques ainsi qu’une multitude de monuments culturels et historiques. Nous avons décidé de nous déplacer jusqu’à là-bas pour découvrir ces différents lieux! 

Il y a un nombre impressionnant de temples et sanctuaires inscrits au Patrimoine Mondial de l’UNESCO mais nous avons décidé de nous arrêter aux 4 principaux : 
⦿ Tōshō-gū, sanctuaire immense au coeur de la ville
⦿ Futarasan-jinja, autre sanctuaire important
⦿ Taiyū-in, temple mausolée 
⦿ Rinnō-ji, temple situé au pied du Mont Nantai

Nous avons été guidé lors de ce voyage pour en apprendre bien plus que nous l’aurions imaginé! 
Laissez-nous vous partager les charmes de la ville de Nikkō.

Comment s’y Rendre?





Vous pouvez vous rendre à Nikkō par différents stations et itinéraires mais la façon la plus simple de rejoindre la ville est d’emprunter les trains de la compagnie Tobu depuis la station d’Asakusa. Petit plus, à Asakusa vous retrouverez le Centre d’Informations Touristiques Tobu. Ici vous retrouverez des réductions pour votre voyage à Nikkō. Il y a un large choix de pass pour les touristes du monde entier.
Page Web (en anglais). 

Cette fois nous avons choisi le pass ‘Nikkō City Area’. Ce dernier coûte 2670 yens (environ 20€) et est valide pour 2 jours. Il vous permettra de rejoindre facilement les zones de Nikkō ainsi que de Kinugawa Onsen

Arrivée à Nikkō



Après un peu moins de 2 heures de trajet nous voici à la station Nikkō Tobu! Juste en face de la gare se trouve des arrêts de bus pour rejoindre les lieux touristiques des environs. Vous trouverez également des services de location de voitures. 



Nous aurions très bien pu utilisé les bus touristiques du Patrimoine Mondial mais vue que nous restions ici  2 jours et que nous voulions profiter un maximum des sanctuaires et temples nous avons choisi l’option location. Grâce à Nissan Rent-a-Car notre voyage a été encore plus confortable et pratique. 

TŌSHŌ-GŪ  (東照宮) 



Le Tōshō-gū a été érigé en 1617 sous les ordres d’Ieyasu Tokugawa, premier shogun de l'Epoque Edo (1641-1868). Il est composé de 55 bâtiments et d’une multitude d’escaliers. Il est actuellement en rénovation mais vous pourrez tout de même apprécier une large partie du complex et y prendre de jolies photos. 

La Porte Yomei est la partie la plus populaire de ce sanctuaire. Cette dernière est décorée de gravures de toutes sortes : enfants, lions et autres signes traditionnels. Les gravures et couleurs du sanctuaires ont été rénovées sous le troisième shogunnat avec à sa tête Iemitsu Tokugawa (petit fils d’Ieyasu). Elles font de ce sanctuaire un lieu extrêmement apprécié, reconnu comme l’un des plus beaux du Japon. 

⏰ : 8h – 17h (fermeture à 16h de Novembre à Mars) 
Les admissions se terminent 30 minutes avant l’heure de fermeture.



La ‘Shinkyūsha’ (新厩舎, écurie sacrée) accueillait autrefois les montures sacrées. Lors de notre passage, il n’y avait malheureusement pas de chevaux mais les gravures de singes ont compensé notre malchance. Le lieu est d’ailleurs très populaire pour ces trois singes sages mais nous avons été surpris d’en apprendre encore plus sur l’histoire. 



Vous remarquerez certainement que les bâtiments sont décorés d’animaux mystérieux mais savez-vous ce qu’ils représentent? Celui de droite représente un éléphant et à la gauche une girafe! Design assez étonnant nous direz-vous?! C’est tout simplement parce que le Japon n’avait que très peu de connaissances sur ces animaux exotiques à l’époque. 



Le “Chat Endormi” est un Trésor National créé par Hidari Jingoro. De l’autre côté vous pourrez voir trois oiseaux! Pour l’anecdote, le chat est le gardien de la tombe des Tokugawa! En temps normal un chat ne dormirez pas en présence d’oiseaux. C’est un symbole de paix : le chat est en paix avec lui-même et son environnement, il n’a pas besoin de tué! 



Voici les trois chars en hommage aux divinités des lieux. Ils sont utilisés leur des festivals se tenant au Printemps (le 18 Mai) et en Automne (le 17 Octobre). 



Ce bougeoir est un cadeau en guise de bonne entente des Pays-Bas à Ieyasu Tokugawa

FUTARASAN-JINJA (二荒山神社)



Le Sanctuaire Futarasan se trouve non loin du Tōshō-gū. Bien que le Tōshō-gū soit le plus populaire des deux, le Sanctuaire Futarasan est pour sa part le plus ancien. Sa construction remonte au milieu du VIIIème siècle. Créé dans un premier temps pour vénérer les divinités des montagnes de Nikkō, il est aujourd’hui apprécié des couples qui viennent y faire leurs voeux. Il est dit qu’il apporte bonheur et chance dans le mariage! 

⏰ : 8h – 17h (fermeture à 16h de Novembre à Mars)



Purifiez-vous et profitez de la verdure environnante!



Le ‘Shinkyō’ (神橋, pont sacré) fait partie du Sanctuaire Futarasan et est classé parmi les plus beaux ponts du Japon! Nous ne pouvons qu’être d’accord avec cette affirmation. 

TAIYŪ-IN (大猷院廟)



Le Taiyū-in, est le mausolée du troisième shogun Tokugawa, Iemitsu, petit fils d’Ieyasu. Comme nous le disions précédemment Iemitsu est à l’origine de la reconstruction du Tōshō-gū, vous retrouverez donc forcément ce style de couleurs délavées. 

Le lieu de culte et le sanctuaire intérieur sont reliés donnant une forme en ‘H’ au bâtiment. Ici aussi vous retrouverez de nombreux animaux mystérieux. Nous vous laissons chercher le tapir dans les gravures. 

⏰ : 8h – 17h (fermeture à 16h de Novembre à Mars)

RINNŌ-JI (輪王寺)



Le Hall Sanbutsudō du Rinnō-ji a été désigné comme bien culturel important. Il est aussi reconnu comme plus grand bâtiment en bois de la Zone Est du Japon. Il a été construit durant l'Epoque Heian (794-1185) et est actuellement en rénovation jusqu’à 2020. A l’intérieur vous retrouverez d’énormes statues dorées de 7,5m de haut des divinités Bato Kannon, Amida, et Sensu Kannon. 



⦿ Bato Kannon : à l’origine cette divinité été vénérée par les guerriers avant les affrontements. Bato protégerait des maladies et de la mort. Aujourd’hui seuls les agricultures le vénèrent encore pour protéger leur bétail. 

⦿ Amida : elle est reconnue comme la divinité de la méditation et de la sagesse. Vous la retrouverez à travers le Japon au côté des 4 autres Bouddhas de la sagesse. 

⦿ Sensu Kannon : connue sous le nom de ‘Kannon aux 1000 bras’. Elle porte dans chacune de ces mains des objets (lance, flèche, miroir) pour venir en aide à ceux qui prient pour elle. 

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Details

NAME:Nikkō

MAP

ADDRESS:

2301 Sannai, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture

2307 Sannai, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture

2300 Sannai, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture

ACCESS:Station Nikkō Tobu

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) has 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. Famous for its unique culture and history of Chinese and Dutch trade and Western missionaries, Kyushu offers many historic treasures and beauties. It is also home to some of Japan's most famous natural hot springs due to all the volcanos.

    • FUKUOKA

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

    • KAGOSHIMA

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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