Snow on shrine grounds at Nikko Toshogu, a red-and-white building and a larger hall among snow-covered cedars

Kegon Falls seen through the lit window of a blurred stone lantern, dark forest and rock walls around

The red Shinkyo bridge arching over the Daiya River, spring greens on the hillsides

Aerial view of Mount Nantai with Lake Chuzenji at its foot, a mountain road winding across brown slopes in front

Nikko, Tochigi

Nikko: What to Do and Where to Stay

Food · Things to do · Where to stay

Nikko has three bases. The shrines and temples (Toshogu, Futarasan, Rinnoji, Taiyuin and Shinkyo Bridge) are 7 to 15 minutes by World Heritage tour bus from JR Nikko or Tobu-Nikko Station. Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls and Senjogahara are about 50 to 70 minutes up the mountain by bus. Kinugawa Onsen and Edo Wonderland are on the Tobu Kinugawa Line, about 2 hours from Asakusa by Spacia limited express.

The pages below cover what to do and where to stay. Toshogu closes at 17:00 from April to October and 16:00 from November, and the Akechidaira Ropeway above the Irohazaka is closed until September 2027 (planned). Check-in is 15:00 at most of the eight hotels listed.

Nikko: things to do, where to stay

In depth

TravelNikko Day Tour from Tokyo, or On Your Own? The Four Conditions That Decide It
One day for Nikko, two ways to spend it: a bus tour from Tokyo, or Tobu or JR trains and the local buses on your own. Four conditions, in the order they decide it: which half of Nikko is on your list, your date, your clock and base, and the price for your party.
September 25, 2026