- Opening date: December 4, 1934.
- Area: 1400 square meters. km
On the island of Honshu, about 140 km northeast of the Japanese capital is the Nikko National Park. It is located on the territory of four prefectures - Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi and Niigata and occupies 1400 sq. Km. km.
What is interesting about the park?
Nikko Park in Japan is one of the oldest and also the most beautiful. Its pearl is the waterfalls (including one of the most famous waterfalls in Japan - Kegon ) and Lake Tudzendzi, which was formed as a result of the eruption of the Naniisan volcano.
Nikko Park offers its visitors walks, fishing, and in winter - skiing. On its territory there are periodically held various festivals, dedicated to traditional Japanese holidays . The Japanese themselves say about their oldest park: "Do not call something gorgeous until you see Nikko." The city of the same name is an integral part of the National Park, a kind of gateway to the reserve.
The park's natural areas, its flora and fauna
The park encompasses the Nikko mountain range, known for its tops such as Nikko-Sirane and Nantaisan (an extinct stratovolcano), as well as plateaus, lakes, waterfalls. There are 48 of them, the most famous is Kagon, formed by the Daiyagawa River, which takes its source in the lake. The height of the waterfall is 97 m, and the width at the foot is 7 m. There are 12 small waterfalls along its sides.
On the territory of the park there are several natural zones: coniferous and deciduous forest tracts, shrub zones, alpine meadows, as well as the highest marshland of Japan - Odzega- hara.
Floods and azaleas blossom on the marsh, a lot of rare plants grow. In the forest zone, plum trees grow, beautiful flowering attracts many tourists to the park. In the park grows a rare species of sakura - the congosakura, whose flowers have a golden color. It is believed that the age of the Sakur, which can be seen near the Ritsuin Temple, is 200 years old. And, of course, there are many traditional maple trees for Japan.
In the park live macaque, roe deer, spotted deer, wild boar, white-beared bear. Feathered inhabitants of the park are also striking in their diversity; The brightest of these are the green and copper pheasant.
Man-made sights of the reserve
In the park there are several temple complexes:
- Temple Toshyogu , which is the tomb of the ruler Ieyasu Tokugawa, Prince Minamoto, the founder of the Tokugawa dynasty. The temple complex consists of two dozen buildings. The tomb itself is made of bronze. The name Tosegu translates as "the temple of the shining of the east," this name echoes the name of the park itself (and the city), which translates as "sunlight";
- The Taiyuan Sanctuary stands on the side of the mountain. It was erected in the XVII century, and very much like the temple Toshyogu, only in a more rigorous version;
- Sanctuary of Takinoo , dedicated to the female deity, patronizing women and helping in love;
- Sanctuary of Futarasan ;
- Buddha statues .
Infrastructure
Nikko - reserve with a well - developed infrastructure. On the territory of the park there are restaurants and cafes, ski centers, balneological resorts. Several walking routes have been laid, and there are thematic excursions . You can come here with the purpose of learning something new, so in order to just relax.
How to get to Nikko National Park?
Getting to the park from Tokyo to the city of Nikko is most convenient by car. The distance of 149 km can be overcome in about 1 hour 50 minutes. On the road there are paid plots.
You can reach the park and by public transport . First you should take the Sinkansen high-speed train and go to Nikko-Kinugawa station, then change to the metro line - a separate line of the park. From the station you will either walk on foot (about 15 minutes), or drive to the place of destination by bus. The whole journey will take about 2.5 hours.
Please note: it is better to know the train timetable in advance, since the interval between them is quite large.