On the shores of Lake Chuzenji, away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo in the Tochigi Prefecture is Nikko; a national treasure filled with natural beauty and important UNESCO World Heritage sites. Its literal translation means “sunlight” so it’s no wonder the Japanese flock here to spend their holidays with its national forests, waterfalls, and hot springs. Its scenic lake-and-mountains landscape is reminiscent of my childhood family vacations growing up in California with summers spent at Lake Tahoe.

At Nikko’s sanctuary entrance stands the UNESCO World Heritage Shinkyo Bridge; a vermillion lacquered “sacred bridge” and the oldest bridge built over a gorge in Japan.  It's considered god luck to make a wish while crossing, so of course I had to make this my first stop on our way to checking into the KAI Nikko., a luxury ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).

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