Nitenmon Gate(Taiyuin-byo)

The most important temple in Nikko is Rinno-ji, which was founded by the buddhist monk Shodo Shonin in 766. Housed inside are three huge statues of the thousand-handed kannon, the Amida Buddha and the horse-headed kannon. All three look spectacular and it's well worth a visit inside. Next to Rinno-ji is the Shoyoen(Strolling Garden) a beautiful Japanese garden which was originally created during the Edo period.

Nikko is also famous for the Futarasan Shrine and Taiyuin-byo. The Futarasan Shrine was originally established in 782 by the priest Shodo Shonin and is dedicated to the Shinto gods of Nikko's three most sacred mountains Mount Nantai, Mount Nyoho and Mount Taro.

Taiyuin-byo contains the mausoleum of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu who died in 1651. Designed to be less ostentatious than the Tosho-gu, it is nonetheless still very beautiful and is far more peaceful than the Tosho-gu with its huge crowds.

You can see all the photos here.