Nikkozan Rinno-ji

Plan to spend time at the Sanbutsudo, the main draw here. The hall is open to visitors for a fee, and the three large golden statues inside, Senju Kannon, Amida Nyorai, and Batto Kannon, are the highlight. Photography inside is not allowed, so expect to view them only in person.

Rinnoji is one of the three sites in Nikko’s World Heritage area, and it is easy to pair with Tosho-gu and Futarasan Shrine. The grounds also include Taiyuin, the mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu, and a stupa behind the main hall. If you want more context before you go, a little reading helps the visit make more sense.