Nikko Futarasan Shrine 日光二荒山神社
Nikko, Tochigi · Open in Google Maps
Futarasan Shrine is the guardian shrine of Nikkō, older than the famous Tōshōgū next door. It worships the three sacred mountains of Nikkō, with Ōkuninushi as the god of Mt. Nantai, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
What to look for
- The red Shinkyō bridge across the Daiya River, at the entrance to Nikkō, belongs to this shrine.
- Besides the main shrine in town, it has a shrine on the shore of Lake Chūzenji and an inner shrine on the summit of Mt. Nantai.
- It is calmer than Tōshōgū and has a more natural, mountain-shrine atmosphere.
Enshrined kami
- Ōkuninushi 大己貴命
- Tagorihime 田心姫命
- Ajisukitakahikone 味耜高彦根命
What people pray for here
Matchmaking, good relationships and prosperity.
Etiquette
Visiting Tōshōgū? Futarasan is a few minutes' walk away and is worth the extra time.
New to shrines? Read our short guide to shrine etiquette: purifying your hands, bowing and clapping, offerings, omamori and goshuin.