Futarasan Shrine

Futarasan Shrine sits amid the ancient cedars of Nikko, a Shinto sanctuary founded in the eighth century by the monk who first opened these sacred mountains to worship. Dedicated to the deities of the surrounding peaks and lakes, it is part of the World Heritage listing of Nikko's shrines and temples and is quieter than its opulent neighbor. Vermilion halls, a graceful bridge, and a sacred spring lie scattered through the forest, and paths lead toward the mountains the shrine venerates. Old lanterns and towering cedars lend a solemn air.