A world heritage site Japan is proud of! Take on a quiz to dive deep into Nikkō Tōshō-gū!

Music writer / guitarist / Certified web writing practitionerHoshino Takashi
Drawing on over 30 years of experience with guitars and bands since my high school days, I specialize in music-related articles and have handled many feature pieces to date. While my tastes lean toward genres like hard rock and heavy metal since I first picked up the guitar, I make a point of listening to a wide range of styles, both Japanese and Western, on a daily basis. I began working as a freelance writer in 2018. I hold a Web Writing Practical Certification, and in addition to writing, I’m also studying video editing. In my private life, I’m raising an elementary school child and stay active while supporting their extracurriculars, such as parkour and dance.

Toshogu Shrine in Nikko was inscribed as Japan’s 10th UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

It’s widely known that the shrine enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate, but fewer people may be familiar with the intentions and meanings embedded in its lavish carvings and architecture.

So this time, we’ve created a quiz that lets you learn fun trivia about Nikko Toshogu.

We’ve prepared tidbits that will make your visit many times more enjoyable if you know them beforehand, so we hope you have fun with it.

World Heritage Japan is proud of! Take on a quiz to learn deeply about Nikko Toshogu Shrine! (11–20)

At Nikkō Tōshōgū, which structure uses the same vibration-control (seismic damping) system as the Tokyo Skytree?

Five-storied pagoda
stone lantern
Yōmeimon Gate

See the answer

Five-storied pagoda

The five-story pagoda of Nikkō Tōshōgū has a structure that is resistant to earthquakes. At the center of the tower is a large pillar called the shinbashira, which stands independently and maintains balance, making the entire building less likely to collapse even during quakes. This design is not unique to the Nikkō pagoda; it is a characteristic found in many traditional five-story pagodas in Japan and represents a form of vibration-control technology that has also been applied to the modern Tokyo Skytree.

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In conclusion

This time, we introduced a quiz about the World Heritage site, Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

Of course, it features National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, but we hope you also learned that it is imbued with Tokugawa Ieyasu’s wish for peace.

It’s a power spot that will surely overwhelm you just by looking at it, but knowing the story behind it will let you see it in a new light.

Through this quiz, we hope you’ll get to know Nikko Toshogu Shrine more deeply.