While visiting the historic temples and shrines, the auxiliary buildings often pass unnoticed, at least from an architectural point of view. However, that’s not the case for the Tōshōgū Shrine in Nikko.

Photographed here are two of the three sacred storehouses (sanjinko) used to store the costumes and the fittings for the festival known as the 1000 Samurai Procession. Lavishly decorated with sculptures such as the Imaginary Elephants, the Tōshōgū Sanjinko are recognized as Important Cultural Properties.

Sanjinko, Toshougu Shrine, Nikko

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Inabayama-jo, a seemingly impregnable castle conquered by… 16 warriors