Nikko

Nikko, an unparalleled blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage

Nikko is a city in the northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture, which is north of Tokyo. You can get there from Tokyo in about two hours. There’s a famous Japanese saying that means, roughly, "You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Nikko."

Tips

Explore magnificent temples and shrines
Take in stunning natural sights like the Kegon-no-Taki Falls and Chuzenjiko Lake
Relax at the historic Kinugawa Onsen hot springs

How to Get There

From Tobu-Asakusa Station: 2 hours to Tobu-Nikko Station by limited express train via Tobu Line.
From Shinjuku Station: 2-3 hours to Nikko Station or Tobu-Nikko Station via JR Lines (transfer at Utsunomiya Station).
From Ikebukuro Station: 2 hours to Tobu-Nikko Station by direct JR Line train.
From Tokyo Station: 3 hours by highway bus. Bus tours from Tokyo to Nikko also available.

Three amazing places, one World Heritage Site

The Shrines and Temples of Nikko are a single UNESCO World Heritage Site that comprises three main sites: Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, and Futarasan-jinja Shrine. All three are amazing, and should be a part of any visit to Nikko, but probably the most famous is Nikko Toshogu. Many Shinto shrines have an austere beauty, but Nikko Toshogu is an awe-inspiring spectacle of lavish color and ornate architectural flourishes.

©Nikko-zan RIN-NOJI Temple

Mountains, lakes, waterfalls and more

Nikko's appeal isn't limited to shrines and temples. It also sits in the heart of an area full of natural beauty. The Kegon-no-Taki Falls stand 97 meters high. Chuzenjiko Lake sits at the entrance to the Oku-Nikko area, a popular mountain getaway, and on its edge sits Mount Nantaisan, whose lushly forested slopes are particularly stunning in the autumn.

Relax at the historic Kinugawa Onsen hot springs

A 30-minute train ride from Nikko Station is Kinugawa Onsen, a historic hot spring town. You can stay overnight at a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) or hotel with its own hot spring baths, or just come for the day for a soak at one of the many springs open to the public.