The vermilion arch
Over the Daiya River.
Linedwell — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Saigen Jiro — CC0 · alonfloc — CC BY 3.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · KimonBerlin — CC BY-SA 2.0 · くろふね — CC BY 3.0 · Biliana Nikolova-Lefterova — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Saigen Jiro — CC0
A sacred vermilion-lacquered bridge over the Daiya River at the entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples, belonging to Futarasan Shrine and counted among the three most beautiful bridges in Japan, the gateway to Nikko. It became part of the World Heritage Site in December 1999. It is 28 metres long and 7.4 metres wide, and stands 10.6 metres above the river. Legend says that in 766 the priest Shōdō could not cross the raging river on his way to Mount Nantai, until a giant figure named Jinja-Daiō appeared and released a blue and a red snake that turned into a rainbow-like bridge, which is why it is sometimes called the «Snake Bridge». The bridge has been rebuilt many times over the centuries but has kept the same design since 1636, when only messengers of the Imperial court could use it; it has been open to the public since 1973. The view of it from the modern bridge alongside, with blue water rushing over the rocks below and forest behind, is one of Nikko's best known, especially in autumn. Viewing it from outside is free; walking across costs about 300 yen, per visitor guides.
Over the Daiya River.
A rainbow bridge.
Around the bridge.
Entrance to the shrine area, over the Daiya River, Nikko
Yes, for about 300 yen per visitor guides; viewing it from the modern bridge alongside is free.
