The Three Wise Monkeys (Mizaru, Iwazaru, and Kikazaru) are easily recognizable through the popular 🙈🙉🙊 emojis. The monkeys embody the moral teaching 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.' advising people to avoid the negative influences of seeing, speaking, and listening to harmful things. The Three Wise Monkeys at Toshogu shrine are particularly famous.　Since ancient times, monkeys have been kept near stables as guardians of horses. For this reason, the three monkeys are carved into the stable of the sacred horse at Toshogu Shrine. The three monkeys motif which is used to ward off evil has also been incorporated into various products.

These famous teachings of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who is enshrined at Toshogu, are said to have been written when he retired from his position as Shogun. His words are beautifully printed on Karasuyama washi paper, known as Hodomura-gami, designated a national intangible cultural heritage of Japan. Philosophical words such as "A person's life is like walking a long road carrying a heavy burden, so do not rush", "If you consider inconvenience to be the norm, you will never lack" and "Think of anger as your enemy" are thought-provoking for us even today. The teachings come with a transcript, a brief biography of Ieyasu, and an explanation of Karasuyama washi paper in Japanese and English.

This map is believed to have been published in the mid-1870s, depicts a bird's-eye view of Nikko’s temples and shrines nestled in the dense cedar forest. The Shrine complex is brought into focus by the surrounding panorama of clouds and Nikko’s mountainous landscape. At the time of production woodblock prints and illustrated maps were common, however copperplate maps like this were quite rare. You can view the original on display in our restaurant.