中禅寺湖畔にある神社で、日光二荒山神社の本宮と奥宮の中間に位置する神社です。それと同時に、男体山の登山口の一つでもあります。 世界遺産として登録されている日光の社寺の一つではありますが、本宮や日光東照宮から離れた場所にあるからか、この神社を訪れる参拝客は比較的少なめです。その代わり登山客が多い印象です。 境内には、鮮やかな朱色で染められた柱や梁を持つ本殿を始め多数の重要文化財がありますが、散策する限りでは、境内の広さを含め一般的な神社と大差ありません。一方で本殿にかなり近い場所に駐車場が設置されているため、車を利用して神社を訪れる人も多いのが特徴です。一部未舗装の道もあるため、車椅子等の障碍を持つ方は少し利用しづらいと感じるかもしれません。 この神社から男体山へ登る場合、神社の受付で登山計画を提出する必要がありますが、受付は午前中のみであることに注意が必要です（往復に約6時間を要し、午後に登り始めると下山が夜になり危険を伴うため）。 This shrine is located on the shore of Lake Chuzenji, and is middle point between the main shrine and the inner shrine of Nikko Futarasan Shrine. At the same time, it's also one of the trailheads for Mt.Nantai. Although it's one of the shrines and temples in Nikko registered as a World Heritage Site, the number of visitors to this shrine is relatively small, probably because it's located far from the main shrine of Nikko Futarasan Shrine and Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Instead, I have the impression that there are many climbers. There are many important cultural assets in the precincts, including the main hall with its pillars and beams dyed in bright vermillion, but as far as a stroll around the shrine is concerned, it's not much different from an ordinary shrine, including the size of the precincts. On the other hand, there is a parking lot located quite close to the main shrine, so many people use their cars to visit the shrine. Some of the roads are unpaved, so people with disabilities such as wheelchairs may find it a little difficult to use. If you want to climb Mt.Nantai from this shrine, you need to submit your climbing plan at the reception desk of the shrine, but please note that the reception desk is only open in the morning (it takes about 6 hours to go there and back, and if you start climbing in the afternoon, it will be dangerous to descend at night).

The shrine is quite lovely. But I think I was shrined out by the time I got here. It's surrounded by some pretty ordinary buildings, thus reducing its charm somewhat.