Vermilion lacquered sacred Shinkyo bridge is one of the most beautiful structures in Japan, with its Zen aesthetics found in the art of the traditional Japanese garden. The bridge is elegantly set, contrasting with its natural scenic settings of a river gorge, the lush green forested hills with the white water covered by a calm fog at first light. Shinkyo is also known as Yamasugeno-jabashi, which means snake bridge of sedge. The bridge is part of the Futarasan Shrine in Nikko and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Establishment of the Shinkyo remains an enigma wrapped in a mystery, personally I buy into the theory its original designer and builders were of the Kofun period, and those who built the Kofun Mounds, and some believe journeyed from Mesopotamia. Shinkyo was rebuilt in 1636 and was open to persons of the imperial court and high ranking Samurai such as The Shogun, then in 1973, it opened its gate to the general public. I took this shot just as the first rays of light started to sprinkle the sacred Shinkyo bridge.

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