The jewel of the remarkable Nikko temple complex, this shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate and stands in a beautiful forest. Originally constructed in 1617, the shrine is likely to be crawling with tourists and schoolchildren. But it’s still worth a visit to see the impressive art and architecture, as well as stroll up to the Okumiya Haiden and wish-granting tree.
While Nikkō Tōshogū is the must-see, other temples in the complex are also worth visiting if you have time, including Nikkozan Rin’nōji and Rin’nōji Taiyū-in (the Mausoleum of Iemitsu).