Natural Tokyo – Nikko National Park
May 12, 2009 by Rin Yamada
Filed under Destinations
Japan has a large number of beautiful tourist attractions that provide a unique balance of nature and urban chic. The ones that often come to mind under consideration are the parks that dot its landscape. These parks have Eastern and Western culture and design all mixed perfectly.
Nikko National Park is considered to be one of the best parks in Japan. A look at its highlights would leave no one in doubt of such an accolade. Within an hour’s sojourn from the busy lights of Tokyo, it is a haven for individuals who wish to indulge themselves in the company of nature.
The national park is the also the pride of the city Nikko in Japan. The small town population shares the park with a few other cities within the main prefecture although it is named after them. The townspeople are often busy tending to the thousands of visitors every year and have enjoyed prosperous times since opening up to the tourism trade.
There are many attractions within Nikko National Park itself and the first that comes to mind is the ancient architecture that is Toshogu Shrine. This shrine was home to 17th century shoguns and is a mausoleum that is considered symbolic. The details in the carvings that adorn its walls are incredible and one can spend hours just admiring the skills of the craftsmen who built the shrine.
Just as many cities in Japan have their own mini-Fuji, Nikko has theirs as well although it has its unique identity separating it from the country’s well known volcano peak. Mount Nantai presents an equally awesome mountain volcano, although it has been dormant for hundreds of years. There is no shortage of legends surrounding it and visitors have been kept in awe by its sight.
A most spectacular sight to behold in Nikko National Park is the Kegon Waterfall. Measured at over 100 meters in height, Kegon Waterfall can be astounding when viewed in person. The rapids that crash down provides a strong contrast to the calm air that one will discover in the caves that are hidden behind.
Lake Chuzenji in Nikko is perhaps the opposite of the waterfall. There is a soothing quietness to the area and not only does the lake reflect that, it provides a perfect place for self introspection. This is an interesting point to note considering that Lake Chuzenji was created from numerous volcanic eruptions of nearby Mount Nantai, when chaos and fires reigned supreme.
With so many beauties of nature to be experienced, visitors are often advised that the best time to visit Nikko National Park would be in autumn or spring. However, the former provides the most spectacular foliage views during the year. It is also the perfect place for one to get away from the hectic bustle of Tokyo.