Futarasan Shrine, Shinto shrine complex in Nikko, Japan
Futarasan is a Shinto shrine complex in Nikko, Japan, located between Mount Nantai and Toshogu Shrine. The main hall displays curved rooflines and wooden carvings, surrounded by centuries-old cedars that shade the inner courtyard.
Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin founded the complex in 782 after climbing Mount Nantai. Most of the current buildings date from the 17th century, when the Tokugawa family expanded and renewed the complex.
The name derives from an older term for the sacred Mount Nantai, which plays a central role in the worship of the surrounding mountains. Pilgrims write wishes on small wooden tablets and hang them beneath the tall cedars, a practice that remains active today.
A forest path from Nikko Station leads to the shrine in about 45 minutes, or buses run from both stations in town. The main hall sits near Toshogu Shrine and can be reached via paved paths, while the mountain sanctuaries require longer hikes or a cable car.
Two swords classified as national treasures are kept inside, though visitors can see them only during rare exhibitions. The grounds extend over several thousand hectares and include eight mountain peaks and a remote waterfall.
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