Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo: How to Plan It

Is Nikko Worth a Day Trip from Tokyo?

Yes, if you start early. Nikko is about two hours north of Tokyo by train, and in one day you can see its World Heritage shrines and temples, led by the gold-carved Toshogu Shrine, and, with an early start, the Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji up in the mountains.

It is the best day trip from Tokyo for Japanese history and architecture, and in autumn one of the best for colours.

It is a long day, though. The shrines are in the town, while the lake and the falls are a separate bus ride up a winding mountain road.

Trying to do everything is the usual mistake.

Each place below links to its own detailed guide. If you are still choosing between day trips, compare Nikko with Mt. Fuji and Hakone.

How to Get from Tokyo to Nikko

Of the main options below, the Tobu train from Asakusa is the simplest and usually the cheapest.

Route	From	Time	Good to know
Tobu limited express (SPACIA X, SPACIA, Revaty)	Asakusa or Tokyo Skytree	About 1 hr 50 min direct	Reserved seats, covered in part by the NIKKO PASS
JR and Tobu direct limited express	Shinjuku or Ikebukuro	About 2 hrs	Few trains a day, not covered by the NIKKO PASS
JR Shinkansen and JR Nikko Line	Tokyo or Ueno	About 2 hrs with a change at Utsunomiya	The route for JR rail pass holders
Private car	Your hotel	Depends on traffic	No changes, slow in autumn weekend traffic

Tobu from Asakusa. The direct limited express trains run to Tobu-Nikko Station in about 1 hour 50 minutes. Limited express seats are reserved, and tickets go on sale at 9:00 one month before the travel date.

In the autumn colour season, book as soon as you can. On SPACIA and Revaty, Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko is the ¥1,400 fare plus a limited express charge of ¥1,650 (¥1,450 on low-season dates, ¥1,850 on peak dates), so from ¥2,850 one way.

Children pay half of each, rounded up to the next ¥10. SPACIA X is the newest train, with a café counter and lounge seating.

From Shinjuku. A few direct limited express trains a day run over JR and Tobu tracks from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro to Tobu-Nikko in about 2 hours, which suits a hotel on the west side of the city.

JR via Utsunomiya. Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and change to the local JR Nikko Line to JR Nikko Station, a few minutes’ walk from Tobu-Nikko.

This is the route to use with a JR rail pass.

Our guide to rail passes for Nikko compares the passes and tickets in detail.

Which Ticket to Buy, and the NIKKO PASS

For most visitors from Tokyo, the answer is the NIKKO PASS World Heritage Area, which costs ¥3,000 for adults and ¥1,500 for children and is valid for two days. It covers one round trip on Tobu between Asakusa (or Tokyo Skytree) and Shimo-Imaichi, the Tobu lines around Nikko, and Tobu buses within the World Heritage area.

The pass does not cover these.

• The limited express charge, which you buy separately, per person.
• Admission to the shrines and temples.
• Theme parks such as EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura and Tobu World Square.

The pass is sold to foreign visitors at Tobu’s tourist information centres in Asakusa and Ikebukuro. If you plan to go up to Lake Chuzenji, compare it with the NIKKO PASS All Area (¥8,000 for adults, ¥4,000 for children, 4 days), which also covers the buses up to the lake and Oku-Nikko and, from mid-April to November, the lake cruise.

A One-Day Nikko Itinerary from Tokyo

The plan below is a realistic day by Tobu from Asakusa. It keeps the shrines as the centre and adds the lake only if time allows.

Time	Where	Notes
8:00	Leave Asakusa on the limited express	Buy ekiben or snacks before boarding
10:00	Tobu-Nikko Station	Bus towards the shrine area
10:30	Shinkyo Bridge	Photos from the road side
11:00	Toshogu Shrine	Allow 1.5 to 2 hours
13:00	Lunch in town	Yuba (tofu skin) is the local speciality
14:00	Rinno-ji or Futarasan Shrine	Or take the bus up to Kegon Falls
16:30	Train back to Tokyo	Arrive around 18:30

To see Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji as well, take the bus up the Irohazaka road straight after Toshogu and eat lunch at the lake. On autumn weekends the road can be jammed for hours, so on those days choose either the shrines or the lake.

Toshogu Shrine and the World Heritage Area

Toshogu, Rinno-ji temple and Futarasan Shrine together make up the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They stand next to each other in the cedar forest above the town, a short bus ride from the stations.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine

Toshogu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, and the most richly decorated shrine in Japan. The ticket covers the Yomeimon Gate, the main halls, the carving of the Sleeping Cat, the Okumiya inner shrine with Ieyasu’s tomb, and the Honjido hall with the Crying Dragon ceiling.

• Hours. 9:00 to 17:00 from April to October, 9:00 to 16:00 from November to March. Entry ends 30 minutes before closing.
• Admission. ¥1,600 for adults and high school students, ¥550 for primary and junior high students.
• Audio guide. ¥500 a day, in English, Chinese and Japanese.

Children usually enjoy hunting for the carvings, such as the three wise monkeys on the sacred stable, the sleeping cat over a gateway, and the imagined elephants on one of the storehouses. Our guides to Toshogu Shrine and the three wise monkeys explain what to look for.

Shinkyo Bridge, Rinno-ji and Futarasan Shrine

The red Shinkyo Bridge marks the entrance to the shrine area, and its classic view is from the road beside it. Rinno-ji is the main Buddhist temple of Nikko, and Futarasan Shrine, older than Toshogu, honours the sacred mountains around it.

Both are a few minutes’ walk from Toshogu. See our guides to Shinkyo Bridge and Futarasan Shrine.

Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and Oku-Nikko

Above the town, the road climbs the hairpin bends of the Irohazaka to Lake Chuzenji, about 1,270 metres up, where the air is cooler and the leaves turn earlier. Getting there takes a bus ride from the stations, so give it at least half a day. Our Irohazaka guide covers the road.

Kegon Falls

The waterfall drops nearly 100 metres from the lake. A lift takes you down to a viewing platform at the foot of the cliff for ¥600 return for adults and ¥400 for primary school children, and preschoolers ride free.

From March to November it runs from 8:00 to 17:00. See our Kegon Falls guide.

Lake Chuzenji and the Embassy Villas

Lake Chuzenji is a wide mountain lake below Mt. Nantai, with sightseeing boats in season. On its southern shore stand two old summer houses of foreign diplomats, the Former British Embassy Villa and the Former Italian Embassy Villa, both with lake-view rooms.

See our guides to Lake Chuzenji, the British Embassy Villa and the Italian Embassy Villa.

Senjogahara and Ryuzu Falls

Further up, Senjogahara is a high marshland crossed by flat wooden boardwalks, good for a walk with children who like nature, and Ryuzu Falls is a broad cascade that is at its best in autumn. Both are for an overnight stay or a very early start.

See our guides to Senjogahara and Ryuzu Falls.

Nikko with Kids

Nikko suits children who like stories and spotting things, from about age 6 up. For toddlers, the long day is the hard part.

• Strollers. The shrine area has gravel paths and stone steps, and the climb to Ieyasu’s tomb at the Okumiya is a long flight of steps. A baby carrier is easier than a stroller.
• The train. The ride is about two hours each way. Reserved seats on the limited express make it manageable. Bring snacks and something to do.
• The carvings. Give children a list before you go (the three monkeys, the sleeping cat, the elephants, the dragon) and the visit becomes a hunt.
• Theme parks. If the children need a break from shrines, EDO WONDERLAND Nikko Edomura, a recreated Edo-period town, and Tobu World Square, with miniature world landmarks, are in the Kinugawa area. They need a separate day or an overnight stay.

When to Visit Nikko

October and November are the most beautiful months and the busiest. The leaves turn first at the lake and in Oku-Nikko and later in the town, so there are colours for several weeks.

On autumn weekends, book the train early and expect queues for the buses up to the lake.

Spring and early summer are green and quieter, apart from the Golden Week holidays in early May. Winter is cold, with snow at the lake.

The shrines are open, but check the weather before planning anything above the town. Toshogu closes at 16:00 from November, so the light and the day are both shorter.

Day Trip or Overnight?

A day trip works for the shrines. If you want the shrines, the lake and the falls without rushing, stay one night, either at Lake Chuzenji or in the hot spring town of Kinugawa Onsen, which is on the Tobu line and has its own direct trains from Asakusa.

Nikko with Young Children

With children, decide before you go which carvings to find, where to eat, and whether the lake fits in. Our private tours are on foot in Tokyo and Yokohama.

Your guide rides the trains with you, and each of you pays your own fare with an IC card. See our Tokyo private tour with kids.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nikko worth a day trip from Tokyo?

Yes, for the World Heritage shrines, especially Toshogu. Leave by 8:00 and you can see Toshogu, Shinkyo Bridge and Rinno-ji and be back for dinner. Adding Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji makes a very long day.

How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Nikko?

About 1 hour 50 minutes on the direct Tobu limited express from Asakusa, and about 2 hours on the direct train from Shinjuku. By JR, it is about 2 hours with a change at Utsunomiya.

Is the NIKKO PASS worth it?

Usually yes, if you travel by Tobu from Asakusa. The World Heritage Area pass is ¥3,000 for adults and ¥1,500 for children, and covers the Tobu round trip and local buses. The limited express charge is extra (from ¥1,450 one way on SPACIA and Revaty), and it does not cover the train from Shinjuku.

How much is Toshogu Shrine?

It costs ¥1,600 for adults and high school students, and ¥550 for primary and junior high students. It is open from 9:00 to 17:00 from April to October, and until 16:00 from November to March.

Can you use the JR Pass to go to Nikko?

Yes, on the JR route, which takes the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and then the JR Nikko Line to JR Nikko Station. The Tobu trains from Asakusa are a different company and are not covered.

Is Nikko good for kids?

Yes, for children from about 6 who enjoy spotting carvings like the three wise monkeys and the sleeping cat. With toddlers, the two-hour train each way and the steps make it a long day. Use a carrier.

Sources

https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/access/nikko/
https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/ticket/nikko/city.html
https://www.tobu.co.jp/spaciax/en/
https://www.tobu.co.jp/railway/special_express/transit_fare/spacia/
https://www.tobu.co.jp/pdf/transit_fare/spacia_nikko.pdf
https://www.toshogu.jp/pages/25/
https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/sightseeing/cp/autumnnikko/
https://www.visitnikko.jp/en/
https://www.kegon.jp/info/