Shinkyo Bridge

Between the Japanese town of Nikko and its main shrines is the Shinkyo sacred bridge, a red lacquered span that arches gracefully across the Daiya River.

Legend has it that the hermit who settled Nikko was carried across the river here by two serpents. In feudal times, the sacred bridge could be used only by the emperor.

The Shinkyo has long been considered one of the most beautiful structures in Japan, its simple elegance contrasting with the wildness of the river gorge, the green hills, and the tumbling waters.

From here, a road leads into the park, threading through 16,000 towering cedar trees.