At the entrance to Nikko’s impressive shrine area, you’ll find the Shinkyo Bridge, or in Japanese, the “Sacred Bridge.” The bridge belongs to Futarasan Shrine and is considered one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan.

The current bridge was built in 1636, and for centuries it was closed to the public. Only in 1973 did discussions begin about opening it. After extensive renovations in the 1990s and 2000s, it was finally opened to visitors, and today you can cross it for a small fee and enjoy the stunning, almost magical scenery of Nikko.