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Sanbutsudo (Three Buddha Hall), Rinno-ji Temple founded in 766 by Shodo Shonen, a Tendai Buddhist monk
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Dai Goma-do (Holy Fire Temple) at the Rinno-ji Temple
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Ishi-dorii, a stone torii beyond which is Omote-mon, the first gateway into the Tosho-gu Shrine. Torii symbolically mark the transition from the mundane to the sacred at Shinto shrines
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Entrance to the Kyozo, or Holy Scripture Hall, which contains over 7,000 Buddhist scrolls (Tosho-gu Shrine)
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Steps up to Yomei-mon, the two-storey second gateway into the Tosho-gu Shrine. Also known as the Sunset or Sunlight Gate
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The Koro (Drum Tower) on the west side of the Yomei-mon, entrance to the Tosho-gu Shrine
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Komainu (lion-dog) sculptures adorning the gold leaf covered Yomei-mon gate. Komainu come in pairs and ward off evil. The open and closed mouths represent the beginning and ending of all things
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The outer wall of an enclosed corridor known as Tozai Kairo (left) and the Koro drum tower (near right) and Shoro bell house (far right) at Tosho-gu. Drumming signals the start of festivals whilst the bell ringing signals their end
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Carvings on the Tozai Kairo enclosed corridor which forms an outer wall on either side of the Yomei-mon gate
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Three Wise Monkeys carving on the wall of the Shinkyusha (sacred stable) building Tosho-gu Shrine. Carved by Hidari Jingoro, their names are Mizaru (sees no evil), Kikazaru (hears no evil) and Iwazaru (speaks no evil)
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Mikoshi, or portable sacred shrines, at the Shin-yosha building. Mikoshi are used to transport deities between shrines or amongst the people during religious festivals. The central Mikoshi carries the deified spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu
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Suibansha – a water basin used for the ritual cleansing of your hands and mouth prior to entering the Taiyuin Reibyo, the mausoleum of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, grandson of Ieyasu
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Looking back at the Nitenmon Gate, entrance to Taiyuin Reibyo. The mausoleum is a sub-temple of the Rinno-ji Temple
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The Haiden (worship hall) at Taiyuin Reibyo. The mausoleum's buildings are all very similar in style to Tosho-gu Shrine, though they are deliberately not as grand, out of deference to Ieyasu Tokugawa
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Back to Sanbutsudo Temple in Rinno-ji now with twice the monkish goodness
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Nikko Visitor Centre and an interested tourist
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Downtown Nikko and the train station (below) where parties are not permitted on the platform
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