Nikko and Nasu
Jume 4, 2023
Our last bus day for this adventure. From here on to Sapporo we will ride except for a 45 minute bus ride to get around a landslide and a ferry ride to get to our last island since our bikes do not tread water. We are all anxious to get back onto two wheels but our stop midway through our bus ride today was well worth the time.
Midway between Tokyo and Nasu is the town of Nikko, home to a large collection of shrines. It is stunningly beautiful and there is a Japanese saying: “Never say ‘kekkō’ until you’ve seen Nikkō” which means, “Never say I am satisfied until you have seen Nikko.” Here you will find shrines favored by Japan’s most powerful shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who you may know from the Shogun mini-series a few decades ago. It is also where his mausoleum can be found. The entire area is a major draw for Japanese and international tourists and there are many ways that you and your tourism currency can be separated. The economy of the entire city is built around servicing the shrines and the multitudes that come to visit.
The is also home to the original three monkeys of, hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil fame. They form one of eight panels telling a moral tale to teach children how to avoid trouble in life. Other shrines allow people to make a small donation and wish for luck. They sometime give advice such as, “A smile brings luck, financial luck, and healthy longevity.”
You can also pay a visit to the Good Relationship Rabbit, a golden statue featuring a rabbit holding a polished ball made of lapis lazuli. Lapis lazuli is considered a sacred stone and said to increase insight and determination as well as remove evil thoughts bringing good luck and success. The golden rabbit holding the stone is a symbol of good luck. Toss in a few coins, clap your hands and make a wish.
From Nikko we traveled onto another resort town, the beautiful mountainside village of Nasu, known for its hot springs, mountain views and numerous vacation possibilities. For us it is a place to get our bikes and minds ready for the rides that lay ahead.
