Nikko's Snowy Shrines and Temples

Nikko, in Tochigi Prefecture, is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Shrines and Temples of Nikko." Under a dusting of fresh snow, these iconic locales take on a new sort of beauty. During the summer and autumn months, tourists override these historic sites. In winter, however, the crowds are thin and you can feel the peace and power of these places that the ancient Japanese elites once felt.