The mystery of the upside-down pillar of Yomeimon Gate at Nikko Tosho-gu Shrine
Built as a memorial to Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nikko's Tosho-gu Shrine is today famous for its many exquisitely crafted architectural wonders. One of the most lavishly made structures there is the Yomei-mon Gate, whose 12 wooden pillars are engraved with a swirling pattern known as guri-mon. On one of these pillars, however, the pattern is inverted; such a pillar is called a saka-bashira (inverted pillar) and is intended to ward off evil spirits. This custom is related to the old Japanese saying, "Once a building is completed, its destruction begins." By installing a pillar upside-down, the builders of Toshogu Shrine may have thought they were permanently postponing the shrine's completion. That nearly all of the shrine's structures are still so well preserved 400 years later could be a testament to the inverted pillar's effectiveness. When you visit Tosho-gu Shrine, be sure to see this most unusual pillar.
Tosho-gu Shrine on the Web:
http://www.tobuland.com/foreign/sight/nikko_contents.html#toshogu
Yuba (tofu skin), one of Nikko's most famous foods―and an important source of nutrients for monks and ascetics
Yuba, or tofu skin, is a traditional Japanese food that is also one of Nikko's most well-known food products. Yuba is made by heating soy milk and skimming off the film that forms on the hot liquid's surface. Historically, yuba began as a crucial source of protein for the monks and ascetics who came to Nikko Tennoji Temple and other temples, where they were forbidden from consuming animal protein. The custom of eating yuba eventually spread throughout Japanese society, and today it is enjoying a resurgence in popularity as a health food. Yuba can be eaten in its freshly prepared state, or dried and then later simmered or fried. Yuba made in Kyoto is also famous, although there it is mainly made in sheet form, in contrast to Nikko, where rolled yuba is most popular. The word yuba is an abbreviation of the name yu-no-ha, but the meaning differs in the two cities―it means "hot water skin" in Nikko but "hot water leaf" in Kyoto. Many Japanese restaurants in Nikko serve dishes made with yuba. When visiting Nikko, why not enjoy this refined treat while taking a break from your travels?
Recommended restaurants that specialize in yuba dishes:
• Masuda-ya
Menu
Japanese room meal (5,450yen tax included)
A full meal of authentic, traditional yuba cooking. Served in a Japanese-style tatami room.
Western room meal (3,990yen tax included)
A full meal of entry-level yuba cooking. Served at a Western-style table.
Contact
Phone 0288-54-2151
http://www.nikko-yuba.com (Japanese only)
• Ebisu-ya
Menu
Meal A (4,840yen tax included)
A full meal of authentic, traditional yuba cooking.
Meal B (2,860yen tax included)
A full meal of entry-level yuba cooking.
Contact
Phone 0288-54-0113
http://www.nikko-ebisuya.com (Japanese only)
Note:Many other restaurants in Nikko offer dishes made with yuba, including yuba soba (noodles) and yuba ramen (Chinese-style noodles).
Nikko tourism information on the Web:
http://www.tobuland.com/foreign/sight/spot_nikko.html