Temporary Shrine (Okariden)

The Okariden at Nikko Toshogu is a permanent structure used only when the main shrine buildings undergo major restoration, temporarily housing the enshrined deities. Built in 1639 and designated an Important Cultural Property in 1944, its floor plan mirrors the main shrine exactly, with a worship hall and main hall separated by a connecting chamber. Both buildings share the same colorful carvings of flowers and mythical beasts, though some features here are simpler than their counterparts. Above the entrance, a carved tiger references Tokugawa Ieyasu's birth year. Tigers appear throughout the Toshogu complex for the same reason.