HometownTochigi is my hometown in Japan, since it is where our family and relatives live. I go there a few times a year, but the first and memorable time was when i visited Nikko Sannai, at the center of the Nikko Mountain area. It has 57 shrines and temples, including the famous ones being Toshogu Shrine, Rinno-ji Temple and Futarasan Shrine. Nikko has extremely important traces of the Japanese history and cultures and therefore has been a very popular tourists attraction. If you have only a limited time, my suggestion is to take a day or two days Nikko tour from Tokyo. Nikko is a "must see" when you come to visit Japan.
A little information to distinguish the difference between shrine and temples:
*shrine (or "jinja" in Japanese) is used by Shinto believers to pray ; Shinto is Japan's main religion and it is practised widely through ceremonies and festivals.
*temple usually refers to Buddhist temples, where you can see images of Buddha, which orginally came from India
Activities in Nikko
Other than visiting famous shrines and temples, you can enjoy a beautiful nature of Nikko National Park, by walking a 3-4 hours, exploring the Park while listening to the nature's voice, the frogs, birds, insects and breeze of the season. In spring time hiking, fishing and camping at Nasu Shiobara are very popular to locals. Roads may be crowded but you definitely not want to miss the beauty of nature there ... lake or river fishing is also fun.
For more details about Tochigi please visit the official English sites of Tochigi prefecture. Enjoy!
... coming next is "Ishigakijima at Okinawa"!
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