NIKKO

city, Tochigi ken (prefecture), Honshu, Japan. The city lies along the Daiya River, north of Tokyo. One of the major pilgrimage and tourist centres in Japan, it is situated at the edge of Nikko National Park. The name Nikko means sunlight. The splendour of the place is reflected in the Japanese proverb, Do not say kekko' [magnificent] until you've seen Nikko. A Shinto shrine may have existed at Nikko as early as the 4th century AD, and in 766 a Buddhist temple was founded there. Since the 17th century, however, the city has been dominated by the great Tosho Shrine, which contains the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun. Also important is the Daiyuin mausoleum, dedicated to Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa shogun, who died in 1651. The shrines and associated buildings are notable for their vibrant red colour (symbolizing blood), gilt ornamentation, and detail. Their picturesque setting, especially the grove of giant Japanese cedars in which they stand, considerably enhances the attractiveness of the city. There are scores of hot mineral springs in the Mount Nasu area of Nikko National Park. The park also contains the extinct volcano Mount Nantai, which is crowned by the Futarasan Shrine. Waterfalls such as the 325-foot (99-metre) Kegon Falls and the recreation centre and trout hatchery of Lake Chuzenji are also in the park. Pop. (1990) 20,128.