Cross Shinkyo Sacred Bridge

The entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples

Information about Cross Shinkyo Sacred Bridge

The Shinkyo Sacred Bridge across the Daiya River belongs to the Futarasan Shrine. This magnificent vermilion-lacquered structure is known as one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan.

It was once known as Yamasuge-no-Jabashi (Snake Bridge with wild sedges), according to an old legend about the priest Shodo Shonin. It is said that when Shodo and disciples tried to cross the river, they found the current too strong and were unable to cross. They began to pray fervently for a way to cross, and the god Jinja Daio appeared carrying red and blue snakes, which he threw across the river. The snakes intertwined to form a bridge. Thus Shodo and his disciples were able to cross, and the bridge since stood there as the perfect gateway to Nikko.

Interesting facts about Cross Shinkyo Sacred Bridge

The bridge is listed as one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan along with the Kintaikyo in Iwakuni and the Saruhashi in Yamanashi Prefecture. The bridge is both a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site.

In the past, the Shinkyo Bridge was closed to the general public and was only open to important military leaders and imperial messengers. However, visitors can now cross it on foot after paying an entrance fee. The bridge serves as the entrance to the main tourist area of central Nikko, and most visitors stop here to take a photo of the bridge, even if they do not pay the entrance fee to cross it.

The best time to visit Nikko and take a picture of Shinkyo Bridge is in autumn with the red and yellow maple leaf landscape.

Pictures of Cross Shinkyo Sacred Bridge

Highlights Close to Cross Shinkyo Sacred Bridge

Kegon Falls

Kegon Falls, located in Nikko, is one of the most famous and beautiful waterfalls in the city and is one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan, along with Nachi Falls and Fukuroda Falls.

At the foot of Kegon Waterfall lies Lake Chuzenji, the highest natural lake in the country. Kegon Waterfall is impressive in every season: the lush colors of spring and summer, the color of trees and leaves in autumn, and in winter, the waterfall turns into a gigantic frozen waterfall.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the shogun's mausoleum

During your trip to Japan, we strongly recommend that you spend a day or two in Nikko. Tucked away in the city's natural surroundings, you will find one of Japan's most famous shrines, the Toshogu Shrine Complex, dedicated to the shogun (army chief) Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokuwaga shogunate, a family and dynasty that ruled Japan from the 16th to the mid-19th century.

It is one of the greatest constructions in Japan: the best craftsmen had the heavy task of building the most beautiful shrine ever seen in Japan. And as nothing is too beautiful for the shogun, the budget for the construction was unlimited. Among all these buildings, 8 are classified as national treasures and 34 are important cultural properties.

The complex consists of three adjacent sites located in the cedar forest on the slopes of the mountain: a Buddhist temple Rinno-ji and two Shinto shrines, Futurasan and Toshogu.

Rinnoji Temple & Shōyō-en Garden

The Rinnoji Temple in Nikko is one of the most important religious centers in the city and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in 766 by Shodo Shonin, the founder of the Nikko Buddhist school, the temple is famous for its large golden statues of Amida Buddha, Senju Kannon, and Bato Kannon, housed in a serene, sacred space. Right next to the temple is the beautiful Shōyō-en Garden, which, with its traditional Japanese garden architecture and peaceful ponds, offers a place for quiet reflection. The garden provides a harmonious blend of nature and spirituality, leaving a profound impression on visitors.