Nemuri-neko (Sleeping cat carving) — Attraction in Nikko

Nemuri Neko "Sleeping Cat symbolizes Nikkō or the Spirit of Ieyasu, who was thought to be the manifestation of Yakushi Nyorai", the Buddha of Healing, who offers medicinal remedies, gives nourishment to the mind, body, and spirit, and comforts the sick and cures illnesses.

on the other side of the Sleeping Cat is a carving pair of sparrows, despite cats are normally supposed to prey on them. This depiction is believed to symbolize peace, as sparrows can live freely when cats are asleep. If the cat sleep without staying alert, means also that its environment is safe and peaceful.

Some, however, believe that it’s not fully asleep. According to popular belief, the cat’s eyes are only half-closed and Its pose does suggest that it may be actually staying alert, so that unclean creatures such as rats cannot enter the sacred place.

It's a charming belief, but ultimately it's just a...

The sleeping neko is located on the entrance of a small shrine beside the grand toshogu. Not sure if this shrine is dedicated to Ieyasu, I think it's for his son. The lines are long so time...

A real anticlimax as it's high up.and relatively small and the queue just ", pushes" you along so a quick photo is all you can get it you know where and when to see this small,...