Takio Shrine Honden Travel Guide

Takio Shrine Honden, located in the Sannai area of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is a captivating Shinto shrine with a rich history and serene ambiance. Founded in 820 by the priest Kukai, the shrine is one of the three gongen shrines and serves as a secondary shrine to the larger Futarasan Shrine. Legend states that Kukai saw a goddess at this location, a phenomenon called Yoko.The Honden, or main hall, is the most sacred building within the shrine. It is intended for the exclusive use of the enshrined kami, typically symbolized by a mirror or statue. The Honden is usually located at the rear of the shrine complex and is often raised above the other structures, protected by a fence called tamagaki. Shinto priests enter the Honden to perform rituals, and its doors remain closed except during religious festivals.Takio Shrine is known for its Undameshi Torii, a testing luck Torii Gate built in 1696. Visitors test their luck by throwing rocks at a hole in the gate. The shrine also features Takio Sanbon Sugi, three cedar trees marking the sacred place where Kukai is said to have seen the goddess.