December 24, 2012

Nikko in Autumn

Nikko(日光) in Tochigi Prefecture(栃木県) is a popular spot for autumn colors in Fall. The city is definitely famous as the UNESCO World Heritage of Shrines and Temples of Nikko. If you have never been there, it is worth for visiting at least once. The most striking thing is Toshogu Shrine(東照宮), which dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu(徳川家康), founder of Tokugawa Shogunate. Tokugawa shogunate lasted for approx. 300 years in peace, which greatly contributed to the modern Japan. The Toshogu Shrine is magnificent with colorful and detailed wooden decorations. Particularly in Autumn, it is more beautiful.
Torii gate
Approach
Nikko-Toshogu 
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Sleeping cat
Near the Toshogu Shrine, the Nikko Kanaya Hotel(日光金谷ホテル) is located. The hotel was established in 1873 as the first resort western-style hotel in Japan and the building is designated as important cultural properties. Many celebrities such as Einstein, Helen Keller, etc. stayed the hotel.The classical atmosphere is very nice. 
Nikko Kanaya Hotel
From the window of main dining of Kanaya Hotel
Consomme soup
Corn soup
Croquettes of crab meat and cream 
Beef steak
Profiterole au chocolat
Sorbet
Their main dining offers orthodox French dishes and yoshoku. The taste is delicious without discussion. Classical, conventional but not old. The dishes cooked in careful manner gave us great satisfaction. Tasting yoshoku after visiting the Toshogu Shrine is very nostalgic and I like it. The above lunch set costs JPY3,500. My rating is 3.9 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Toshogu Shrine(東照宮)  http://www.toshogu.jp/
Nikko Kanaya Hotel(日光金谷ホテル)  http://www.kanayahotel.co.jp/nkh/index.html 

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