2024 Nikko Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)

Nikko, Near Tokyo - One of Japan's Three Famous Waterfalls

Kegon Falls, located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, is one of Japan's three famous waterfalls, alongside Fukuroda Falls in Ibaraki Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture. The water source of Kegon Falls comes from Lake Chuzenji, where the lake water cascades down a 97-meter-high cliff, creating a spectacular waterfall scene. The waterfall is surrounded by dense forests, offering different sceneries in each season: lush greenery in spring, cool and refreshing in summer, vibrant autumn leaves in fall, and hanging icicles in winter, making it a breathtaking sight. Visitors can take an elevator to the viewing platform at the base of the waterfall to experience the majestic force and splashing water up close. Kegon Falls was designated as a National Scenic Spot in Japan in 1931 and was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Geological Sites in 2007. It is a must-visit attraction in the Nikko area. Kegon Falls offers different beautiful sceneries throughout the year, but the best time to visit is in autumn (October to November) when the mountains are covered with vibrant autumn leaves, making the scenery particularly magnificent. Winter at Kegon Falls has its unique charm, with the surrounding water forming spectacular icicles, creating a beautiful blue ice scene. These icicles sparkle in the sunlight, resembling crystal-clear crystals. The winter scenery of Kegon Falls not only showcases the wonders of nature but also gives a sense of tranquility and grandeur. Visitors can admire these icicles from the viewing platform and experience the unique cold and beauty of winter. 📍Address: 2479-2 Chugushi, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture 🏖️Environment/Facilities: Free viewing at the top, paid viewing platform at the bottom for a more impressive experience 🕰️Opening Hours: March to April, November: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM May to September: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM October: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM December to February: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM 💰Average Cost: Adults: 570 yen Children: 340 yen 💞Recommended Reason: Viewing platform at the base of the waterfall for a close-up experience 🗓️Itinerary: Visit Nikko Toshogu Shrine in the morning, then head to Kegon Falls, followed by Lake Chuzenji and Ryuzu Falls in the afternoon, and finally relax at Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen.

Discover amazing Nikko Toshogu Shrine

#fallishere It’s was such an amazing experience when we visited this historical site . Many beautiful heritage buildings and tree around the area, it will be wonderful when you visiting during autumn. The whole place will change into the colors of falls! Natural colors was added to the historical site . It required ticket to enter to the site our ticket including in the tour . Suggest you to take tour package to visit here as out of town area . Lovely place to visit highly recommended ! 👍🏻 #awesomepic #couplestrip

Exploring Nikko World Heritage in Japan

#fallishere Nikko is a small city in Japan Tochigi prefecture , in the Moutains north of Tokyo. there are many interesting place to visit here as follow;- 1. Nikko Toshogu 2. Kevin Falls 3. Lake Chuzeji 4. Senso-Ji temples 5.Hitachi Seaside Park. it’s interesting to visit here as you able to see other other side of Japan . it’s totally different from what you see in the city. lovely place and recommended to visit . we love it. #couplestrip #awesomepic

Autumn in Nikko Toshogu 🍂🍁

Nikko Toshogu Shrine - The most renowned shrine of “the Shrines and Temples of Nikko”-a UNESCO world heritage site where Ieyasu Tokugawa, the great Shogun who started the Edo Period, is enshrined. Most of the shrine complex you see today was rebuilt in 17th century. The shrine contains 55 buildings including 8 national treasures and 34 listed buildings. The highlights are many colorful buildings which are richly decorated with gorgeous carvings. Do not miss the symbol of peace “Sleeping Cat”, and the “Three Monkeys” with the “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” poses! It was already closed when we got there so we didn't see what's inside. We went in November, most of the leaves fell. Best time to experience autumn in Nikko is prolly October. It's extremely cold in Nikko so just be ready. Location: 2301 Sannai, Nikko-city, Tochigi Prefecture #helloautumn

The Sea of Happiness ☺️

Lake Chuzenji is in Nikko National Park in the city of Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is located at the foot of Mount Nantai. There are many activites that you can do; swan rides, kayaking, sightseeing boat cruise, etc. We went late fall, and unfortunately, most of the leaves were gone. It would have been perfect to see a mountain of fall leaves 🍂🍁 The lake is stunning tho 🤩🤩🤩 #nationalpark #nikko #tochigi #japan #mytripvlog #urbanexplorer #tripblazers #awesomepic

The most beautiful day trip from Tokyo !!!

Nikko!! Nikko is a small city in Japan’s Tochigi Prefecture, in the mountains north of Tokyo. It’s the site of Toshogu, the famed Shinto shrine and a lavish memorial for Tokugawa Ieyasu, founding ruler of the Tokugawa shogunate, or Edo Period. Cool weather, quiet environment and beautiful landscape make Nikko to be one of the most accessible day trip from Tokyo, especially to me who don’t like Tokyo crowds , I always try to go out from the city to escape . Nikko have everything that Japan represents for , ancient temples and shrine , mountains, lake and waterfalls. As the person, who like to hike and explore Japan rural landscape, this is the best choice I have made , and also my dream Kumano Kodo trials continuation of mount yoshino and mount koyasan. Actually, this area can get crowded when you come late ( late meant you each here by 10-11 am) but to me as a early bird , I always try to take first train , so when I reach to Nikko , I am one of a few who took first local bus to explore the area without crowd. If you have JR pass , all transportation from Tokyo to Nikko are covered by the pass except for local bus . There is three different bus route to explore the area, depend on what you are interested to . Bus -A explore temples and shrine areas . Bus -B explore onsen areas and Bus -C explore waterfall , lake and hiking trails start . Since I am early than first bus, I explore temples area by foot and wait for Bus C to follow waterfall and lake. One important reminder is , take photo of the buses timing , and come back in time if you don’t want miss and waited long time , sometimes you might even miss last bus 🤭🤭. Then you have to walk for 20-30 km to the station 😝😝. Make sure you put in your calendar to visit Nikko once you are in East side of Japan . See you on the other side of the world 🌎!! #solotravel #japan #naturelover

Autumn 🍁 at Lake Chūzenji, Nikko, Japan 🇯🇵

Getting There - The best way to get here is by bus (JR). You can stop at JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station. Attractions - Chuzenji Lake Observation Deck Hotels - The Ritz-Carlton, the suit room with lake view . This is the best hotel that you can have Lake Chūzenji window view but it’s a bit pricey. Food & Restaurants - A lot of Lakeside restaurants like Chuzenji Lakeside Boathouse Shopping - A lot of local souvenir store like 日光彫 歌ヶ浜 山田屋 #nikko #japan

Shrines and Temples of Nikkō in Japan 🇯🇵⛩️

Address - 2301 Sannai, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1431, Japan Ambiance/Facilities - Japanese Shrines & Temple Highlights - one of The UNESCO World Heritage Site Avg. Price per Person - around 3000-3500 THB ticket to get to Nikkō Tōshō-gū (the main) but you can walk around to see the small buildings outside Rating - 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ There is combined building between two Shinto shrines and one Buddhist temple. In the autumn, it’s perfect time to visit because you will see the change of 🍁 leaves color. #nikko #temple #japan

hunter mountain

Miss Elly’s beautiful Lake Chuzenji, Nikko.

Where should we start? Nikko nice beautiful quiet small city in the Tochigi Prefecture in the mountains north of Tokyo. There is a few beautiful attractions here but Miss is going to focus on one now. Lake Chuzenji is a beautiful lake above the Nikko town. It takes about 45 minutes from Nikko Station to Lake Chuzenji. The bus journey is beautiful climbing up the mountains with a fantastic view of the cool mountains foliage. Once you reach the top there is more beautiful views to see. Your eyes will going around every where just admiring the view. The air is so fresh and crisp. The lake view is amazing. When Miss Elly was there she see the the local tourist loves to visit. There is a handful of foreign tourists which is good. A place that you should put in your itinerary. Miss Elly suggestion would be stay in Nikko for a minimum of 2 nights or like Miss Elly she stays there for 3 nights. Miss Elly manage to visit most of the place but she still feels there is more to see. Go and visit you won’t regret it. #miss_elly69 #missellyadventure #missellyjapan #missellynikko

Tobu world square- Japan

The world popular buildings of each country. mini structural buildings. Tobu World Square located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. #tobuworldsquare #japan

When your heart is filled with warmth

#celebratewithtrip This is the Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival that takes place every year from late January to early March ~ It is located at Yunishigawa Onsen, Nikko, Tochigi prefecture. It is a one hour bus ride from JR Kinugawa Onsen Station. A walk along the Sawaguchi riverbed is the best way to enjoy this unique illumination. The river bed are lined with hundreds of small kamakura huts. Enjoy a stroll around the candlelit river or enjoy the view from a bridge that looks over Sawaguchi.

Autumn Leaves in Nikko

I just went to Nikko from Asakusa station with Tobu Line. They offer discount pass about 2k yen for 2 days. By purchasing this pass, you don't need to pay anything anymore for the transportation that is affiliated to Tobu. We didn't use limited express so we needed to transfer train about 2 times by using local train. It took us 3-4h to arrive at our destination. It was so tiring but so worth it since my friend and I wanted to go somewhere outside Tokyo and watch Koyo (autumn leaves in Japanese). However we were a bit late so we couldn't see much there. If we came a week earlier it would be a perfect time to see koyo. It was still nice tho since we could taste Nikko's local foods, any kind of product from Yuuba (tofu's skin). #fallingforfall #nikko #japan

#christmasgiveaway

Spectacular New Property In Historic Nikko😍

N.#christmasgiveaway #mapletrees #luxuryhotel #skiing #nationalpark #decembertravel #nyedestinations #unforgettableexperiences

Nikko is a peaceful city

nestled in the northwestern part of Tochigi prefecture. From Tokyo, it can be reached in approximately 2 hours by train, making it a perfect weekend trip destination. It is home to Nikko Toshogu, a world-famous Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the first Shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate which once ruled the entire country for 260 years from the beginning of the 17th century. The original establishment of the shrine dates back to 1617, and it has been visited by numerous tourists as a symbolic structure listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other historical sites in the Nikko area. You can explore the sacred shrine grounds full of magnificent buildings, including 8 National Treasure and 34 Important Cultural Properties. Kegon Falls is another popular spot which offers a refreshing experience in nature with an impressive scenery created by the beautiful waterfall and surroundings! #culturalattractions#nationalpark

the beauty of nature. #naturelover #autumn #mynovgetaway#awesomepic

#triplocal #nikko #autumn

#tripaway It’s in canton of bern in Switzerland,Breathtaking and amazing views.They are real I couldn’t believe my eyes .Switzerland is its own kind of paradise anyone can dream of or can imagine.Definitely heaven on earth.A must visit.We had a nice time you can have a good time too!! #tripaway

went to Nikko-Shi in Tochigi to have some relaxing time and it was absolutely amazing. I had a great time staying at a ryokan, the Japanese traditional style of hotel, and onsen was also great too. #happynewyear

When I hear a place described using the words “best” or “most”, I become skeptical of the claim. Sometimes I’m even disappointed upon visiting, since not every place warrants such high praise. However, that was not the case with Nikko Toshogu Shrine- it absolutely lives up to the hype of being called Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine. Once you’re at the foot of Sakashita-mon Gate, get ready to climb a flight of 207 stone steps within the tranquil forest backdrop until you reach the tomb of Ieyasu. While the climb may seem daunting, Nikko’s stunning natural surroundings make the trek to the tomb more than worth it. #givethanks #givethanks

Futarasan Shrine is a centre of worship located in the Nikko Mountains at Tochigi, Japan. It is famous for Matchmaking shrine. Many visitors come to pray for good luck and success in love. The entrance is free, but if you visit the garden the entrance ($2) is required. I recommend you to visit the garden and drink spring water inside. Or try the fortune telling. The shrine is accessible on foot or by bus from Nikko Station. The walk takes about 45 minutes from Nikko Station along with the pleasant forest-lined roads. Nature beauties and large trees make you relax and refresh the mind. We spent around two hours to walk all the area. It’s very close to the natural forest. #givethanks #givethanks

Although the waterfall is one of the three major waterfalls, it is the smallest of the four waterfalls, namely, Huayan Waterfall, Longtou Waterfall, Wuyue Waterfall and Tangzhi Waterfall. However, it is also the most unique one. It is a double waterfall. Especially when the red leaves go, the gradient leaves and the two waterfalls are very beautiful. In addition, the best location for viewing the waterfall is in the tea house. It is impossible to use a tripod. There are still quite a lot of people who can't stay too long. It is recommended to come together with the original battlefield, and the autumn red leaves are the most beautiful.

A Deep Dive into the History and Art of Nikko Toshogu Shrine

As one of Japan's most important shrines, Nikko Toshogu, located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Edo period. Walking into this shrine, I could feel its profound history and culture. Built in 1617 and completed in 1636, the shrine is renowned for its splendid architecture, intricate carvings, and rich decorative arts. Its design incorporates elements of both Shinto and Buddhism, showcasing the pinnacle of Japanese architecture of the time. At Toshogu, I was particularly captivated by the following features: - Yomeimon Gate: Known for its exquisite carvings and golden decorations, this gate is a significant entrance to the shrine and never fails to amaze me each time I see it. - Elaborate Carvings: The shrine's interior carvings, including the famous 'Sleeping Cat' (Neko) and 'Monkey' (Sarutahiko), embody the essence of traditional Japanese art, deeply immersing me in the cultural heritage. - Five-Story Pagoda: This pagoda is part of Nikko Toshogu and showcases exquisite architectural skills, with each level reminding me of the craftsmanship spirit of that era. Nikko Toshogu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, attracting numerous visitors. I also found a moment of peace here, experiencing the unique culture and history, as if traveling back to that glorious era.

Nikko, a World Heritage City in mid-October

In mid-October 2023, the World Heritage City of Nikko is easily accessible from Tokyo. We visited on October 18, 2023. We bought a bus pass at Nikko Station and only toured the natural zone. The main spot we visited was Lake Chuzenji, which was very peaceful with hardly any people around. The autumn leaves had already changed color, displaying beautiful yellows and reds. There are many spots around the lake to sit and enjoy the stunning nature.

Nikko's Top Tourist Attraction, Nikko Toshogu Shrine!

Location: Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture Address: 〒321-1431 Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko City, Sannai 2301 How to get there: Take the Spacia X or Kegon Limited Express from Asakusa for 2 hours, then take a bus from Tobu-Nikko Station for 10 minutes (get off at Yasukawa stop) Features: A shrine complex dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, spread out in a vast forest area Rating: 5.0/5.0 When traveling to Nikko, this is a must-visit attraction along with Kegon Falls. Its vast scale and unique atmosphere nestled in the forest attract many visitors. It's also great to visit nearby attractions like Shinkyo Bridge, Akechidaira Observatory, Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, and Kinugawa Onsen. Highly recommended!!

Hotel Otaki: The Best Onsen Hotel in Kinugawa Onsen

- Location: Kinugawa Onsen area, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture - Address: 〒321-2526 Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko City, Kinugawa Onsen Taki 155-1 - How to get there: Take the Spacia X or Revaty limited express train from Asakusa Station for two hours, then walk 15 minutes from Kinugawa Onsen Station - Features: Slightly away from the center of Kinugawa Onsen, offering a quiet location, excellent value for money, and a beautiful open-air bath with a view of the waterfall - Price per night: Japanese-style twin room from around 50,000 KRW (!) - Rating: 5.0/5.0 Hotel Otaki is the best resort to visit when you want to enjoy the quietest and coziest rest in the Kinugawa Onsen area. There is a shuttle service to the large public bath of the affiliated hotel nearby, and the hotel's own onsen features a cozy open-air bath and private baths with great views. The rooms are old but very well maintained. Highly recommended!!!

Nikko's Top Tourist Attraction, Kegon Falls!

- Location: Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture - Address: 〒321-1661 Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko City, Chugushi 2479-2 - How to get there: Take the Tobu bus from Tobu-Nikko Station, approximately 50 minutes (1,250 yen) - Admission fee: 600 yen if you take the elevator down - Features: A dizzying and massive 90m drop waterfall, well-maintained observation deck, and delicious snacks around (such as Iwanagui) - Rating: 5.0/5.0 Kegon Falls, along with Lake Chuzenji, is one of the most famous attractions in the Nikko area. It is a place where you will be overwhelmed by the grandeur of the massive drop, which is one of the largest in Japan, and surprised by the taste of the local snacks sold around. Highly recommended if you visit the Nikko area!!

Nature's Masterpiece: Kegon Falls

#waterfall Kegon Falls, nestled in the heart of Nikko National Park, is one of Japan's most breathtaking natural wonders. This 97-meter waterfall, fed by the waters of Lake Chuzenji, plunges dramatically down a sheer cliff, creating a mesmerizing sight that has captivated visitors for centuries. One of the "Three Great Waterfalls" of Japan, Kegon Falls is particularly stunning during the autumn months when the surrounding foliage turns vibrant shades of red and gold. However, the falls offer year-round beauty, with frozen cascades in winter and lush greenery in summer. **Tip**: Take the elevator down to the lower viewing platform for an up-close perspective of the falls' power and grandeur. #100waysoftravel #japantrip

Golden Intricate Temple in Nikko

After numerous trips to Japan, temple could turn a mundane theme (just like many other traditional palaces in Korea/China). But this one was different. The UNESCO World Heritage title aside, this series of temples feature intricate architectural ornamentations, whose style and color are not common among most of the other famous Japanese temples. #nikko I was here in the summer, I believe it would only look 10times prettier in the autumn or winter.