How is Taiyuin not shouted about from every Nikko rooftop? Everyone rushes to Toshogu (which is stunning, don't get me wrong), but this place... those CEILINGS! It's like someone took all the artistic flex of Toshogu but turned the volume down just enough to create something that hits you right in the soul.

This is Iemitsu's final flex - building something just slightly less flashy than his grandfather's Toshogu out of respect, but still absolutely mind-blowing. The understated color scheme actually makes it feel more spiritual somehow, like they found the perfect balance between showing off and creating sacred space.

While everyone's fighting the crowds at Toshogu, you can often have moments of pure peace here to really soak in the artistry.