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The vermilion Shinkyo Bridge over the Daiya River in autumn

Nikko guide

World Heritage shrines and temples, led by Toshogu, stand among tall cedars. A bus ride up the winding Irohazaka road brings you to Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and the Senjogahara marshland.

Things to see 10 classics

Classics 10 places

"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.

By interest
By distance
  • 1

    Nikko Toshogu Shrine

    The shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu, famous for richly colored carvings such as the Yomeimon Gate, the Sleeping Cat and the Three Wise Monkeys.

    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • History & buildings
    • Museums

    about 1.5 hrPaid entryPartly step-free

    Bus · About 20 min from Tobu-Nikko ・ World Heritage Meguri bus to Omotesando, then about 8 minutes on foot ・ 2.2km

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  • 2

    Shinkyo Bridge

    A vermilion bridge over the Daiya River gorge, marking the entrance to the shrines and temples. Beautiful with the autumn leaves.

    • History & buildings
    • Views

    about 15 minPartly paid

    Bus · About 10 min from Tobu-Nikko ・ Bus to Shinkyo ・ 1.5km

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  • 3

    Rinnoji Temple (Sanbutsudo Hall)

    The main temple of Nikko. Three large gilded Buddhist statues sit side by side in the Sanbutsudo Hall. Shoyoen Garden is next door.

    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • History & buildings

    about 45 minPaid entryFine on a rainy day

    Bus · About 15 min from Tobu-Nikko ・ World Heritage Meguri bus to Shodo-Shonin-zo-mae ・ 1.9km

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  • 4

    Taiyuin Mausoleum

    The mausoleum of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu. Its gold and black design is more restrained, and it is quieter than Toshogu.

    • History & buildings
    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • Museums

    about 45 minPaid entryMany stairs or slopes

    Bus · About 20 min from Tobu-Nikko ・ World Heritage Meguri bus to Taiyuin Futarasan-jinja-mae ・ 2.5km

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  • 5

    Futarasan Shrine

    An old shrine dedicated to Mt. Nantai and the other mountains of Nikko, set among cedars next to Toshogu.

    • Temples, shrines & churches
    • History & buildings

    about 30 minFree

    Bus · About 20 min from Tobu-Nikko ・ World Heritage Meguri bus to Taiyuin Futarasan-jinja-mae ・ 2.4km

    Go here
  • 6

    Kegon Falls

    The water of Lake Chuzenji drops about 97 meters in a single fall. An elevator goes down to a viewing platform near the basin.

    • Nature
    • Views

    about 30 minPartly paidPartly step-free

    Bus · About 55 min from Tobu-Nikko ・ Bus to Chuzenji Onsen, then about 5 minutes on foot ・ 11km

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ClassicsHidden gems

Suggested routes

Times assume a 9:00 start. Travel times are estimated from distance and vary with waiting and crowds.

  • Walk the World Heritage shrines and temples

    Leave 9:00 → until about 13:13 (about 4 hr)

    1. 9:00Tobu-Nikko

    2. about 10 min by transport

      9:10Shinkyo Bridgestay about 15 min

    3. about 6 min on foot

      9:31Rinnoji Temple (Sanbutsudo Hall)stay about 45 min

    4. about 6 min on foot

      10:22Nikko Toshogu Shrinestay about 1.5 hr

    5. about 4 min on foot

      11:56Futarasan Shrinestay about 30 min

    6. about 2 min on foot

      12:28Taiyuin Mausoleumstay about 45 min

    The shrines and temples are within walking distance of each other. There is a lot of gravel and stone steps, so wear comfortable shoes.

    Plan this route

  • Oku-Nikko by bus: waterfalls, the lake and the marshland

    Leave 9:00 → until about 17:51 (about 9 hr)

    1. 9:00Tobu-Nikko

    2. about 55 min by transport

      9:55Kegon Fallsstay about 30 min

    3. about 14 min on foot

      10:39Lake Chuzenjistay about 1.5 hr

    4. about 20 min by transport

      12:29Ryuzu Fallsstay about 30 min

    5. about 15 min by transport

      13:14Senjogahara Marshlandstay about 2 hr

    6. about 15 min by transport

      15:29Yutaki Fallsstay about 30 min

    7. about 22 min on foot

      16:21Nikko Yumoto Onsenstay about 1.5 hr

    A bus pass is handy. In autumn-leaf season it is best to set out early in the morning.

    Plan this route

When to go

June to September is rainy (over 200 mm a month). In October the autumn colours move down from the mountains. Okunikko (about 1,300 m) is about 5°C colder.

Point at a month to see its temperature and precipitation.

Temperature (line: average; band: low to high)

Precipitation (mm)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Typical seasons

Cherry blossoms (Rinnoji)

Toshogu Procession of 1,000 Samurai

Autumn leaves (Okunikko to Toshogu)

Snow (Okunikko, Yumoto)

Show as a table
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High (℃)5.96.810.516.120.723.226.72824.218.813.78.5
Avg (℃)0.61.34.710.215.318.822.423.419.814.18.23
Low (℃)-3.8-3.4-0.54.610.4151919.816.110.13.6-1.3
Rain (mm)49.140.899.3133.5167.7225286.1302.5299.5218.185.345.3

Temperature and precipitation are Japan Meteorological Agency normals (1991–2020, Imaichi (Nikko City)). Seasons are typical timings and can shift by a week or two each year. JMA data

Main ways to get around

  • Tobu limited express (Spacia X, Revaty)

    About 1 hour 50 minutes from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko; some trains need a change at Shimo-Imaichi. All seats reserved. From Shinjuku there are through limited expresses via JR.

  • JR Nikko Line

    About 45 minutes from Utsunomiya to Nikko, used when connecting from the Tohoku Shinkansen. JR Nikko Station is a short walk from Tobu-Nikko Station.

  • World Heritage Meguri loop bus

    From JR Nikko and Tobu-Nikko stations it loops past Shinkyo Bridge, Rinnoji, Toshogu, and Taiyuin and Futarasan Shrine. On foot, Toshogu is 30–40 minutes away.

  • Tobu Bus (to Chuzenji Onsen and Yumoto Onsen)

    Up the Irohazaka road: about 50 minutes to Chuzenji Onsen and 1 hour 25 minutes to Yumoto Onsen. Traffic jams cause long delays in autumn-leaf season. Bus passes are sold.

  • Lake Chuzenji sightseeing boat

    From the pier near Chuzenji Onsen it calls at other piers around the lake. It does not run in winter.

Getting to Tobu-Nikko

“Classics” and “Hidden gems” are our editors' picks, not a measured popularity ranking. Travel times are estimates. Please check prices, opening hours and operating days with the official sources before you go.

Photo and data credits

The vermilion Shinkyo Bridge over the Daiya River in autumn Joli Rumi (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Yomeimon gate of Nikko Toshogu shrine Maarten Heerlien from Voorschoten, The Netherlands (CC BY 2.0) / The vermilion Shinkyo Bridge spanning a rocky stream Saigen Jiro (CC0) / Sanbutsudo Hall of Rinnoji at the top of stone steps Zairon (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The Karamon Gate and hall of Taiyuin against cedar trees DXR (CC BY-SA 3.0) / A vermilion gate of Futarasan Shrine among tall cedars Raita Futo (CC BY 2.0) / Kegon Falls plunging down a cliff in autumn colors Jordy Meow (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cropped and resized.

Local food

Regional dishes handed down in Tochigi. Many are home and community cooking, so not every dish is served at restaurants.

See all regional dishes of Tochigi (30)

“Find places serving it” opens a map app search for the dish name and the place name. The results are not chosen or recommended by this site. Please check with the shop whether it serves the dish.

Source: “Our Regional Cuisines” (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), edited by this site (imported 2026-11-15) https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/market/k_ryouri/index.html. Names, areas and ingredients are as written on the source pages; descriptions are excerpts of the original text. No photos are used. This page is not made or endorsed by the ministry.

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