Nikko, Japan: travel guide
Gilded shrines in cedar forest, with waterfalls and a mountain lake
A UNESCO World Heritage mountain shrine town north of Tokyo. Nikko's lavishly gilded Tosho-gu Shrine is Japan's most ornate sacred complex, surrounded by vermilion bridges, sacred waterfalls, and cobalt-blue Lake Chuzenji.
About Nikko
Nikko is a mountain town north of Tokyo, known for the Toshogu Shrine, a richly decorated complex set among tall cedar trees. Its carvings, gold leaf and lacquer are unusually ornate by Japanese standards, and the setting gives them a strong atmosphere.
Other things to do in Nikko include the Rinnoji temple and Taiyuin mausoleum, the red Shinkyo bridge, the Kanmangafuchi Abyss and the higher ground around Lake Chuzenji, where Kegon Falls drops from a cliff. Edo Wonderland is a theme park that suits families.
It works as a long day trip or a night in the hills. Autumn colour is the most popular season, while summer is cooler than the plains.
- Country
- Japan
- Currency
- JPY
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
Last updated
Top places to visit in Nikko
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura
Cultural · about 4 h · entry ¥5,800 (≈ ₹3,490)
Edo-period theme park with costumed ninja and samurai shows, old-town streets and hands-on experiences.
Futarasan Shrine
Temple · about 0.8 h · entry ¥300 (≈ ₹180)
Ancient shrine (8th c.) dedicated to Nikko's sacred mountains, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ryuzu Falls
Waterfall · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
"Dragon's head" waterfall where the Yukawa River fans over rocks into Lake Chuzenji, superb in autumn.
Tosho-gu Shrine Complex
Shinto mausoleum · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine complex, Tosho-gu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who unified Japan in 1603. The 1636 complex is a UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece of Edo-period craftsmanship: 15,000 workers and…
Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji
mountain lake & waterfall · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Irohazaka mountain road's 48 hairpin curves climb 440 m above Nikko to the plateau where cobalt-blue Lake Chuzenji sits beside Japan's most spectacular waterfall: Kegon-no-taki, a 97-metre sheer drop fed directly from the lake. An…
Rinnoji Temple & Taiyuin Mausoleum
Buddhist temple & mausoleum · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Rinnoji is a Tendai Buddhist temple complex at Nikko dating to 766 AD — one of the oldest and largest in eastern Japan. Its main Sanbutsudo (Three Buddha Hall) houses three 7-metre gilt bronze Buddha statues. Adjacent Taiyuin is the…
Shinkyo Bridge
Heritage · about 0.5 h · entry ¥300 (≈ ₹180)
Vermilion sacred bridge over the Daiya River marking the entrance to Nikko's shrine district.
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Nature · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Riverside gorge lined with a row of weathered Jizo stone statues (the "Bake Jizo").
Senjogahara Marshland
Nature · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
High-altitude marsh plateau with boardwalk hiking trails and alpine flora, part of Nikko National Park.
Akechidaira Plateau
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h · entry ¥1,000 (≈ ₹600)
Ropeway-accessed observation deck overlooking Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and the Irohazaka switchbacks.
Yudaki Falls
Waterfall · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
25 m cascade at the outlet of Lake Yunoko above the Senjogahara marsh.
Things to do
- Nikko Shrines & Waterfalls Guided Day Tour Cultural · 6 h · from JPY 5,600 per person
- Toshogu Deep-Dive Shrine Tour Tour · 2.5 h · from JPY 5,000 per person
- Senjogahara & Chuzenji Hike Hiking · 5 h · from JPY 8,000 per person
- Nikko Yuba-Making Class Experience · 1.5 h · from JPY 4,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Nikko Shrines & Kegon Falls Full Day from Tokyo 9 h · from JPY 11,100
Where to stay in Nikko
Hotels
- The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko 5-star · JPY 90,000 to JPY 200,000 per night
- Nikko Kanaya Hotel 4-star · JPY 22,000 to JPY 55,000 per night
- Turtle Inn Nikko 3-star · JPY 7,000 to JPY 16,000 per night
- Nikko Station Hotel Classic 3-star · JPY 12,000 to JPY 24,000 per night
Where to eat
- Meiji-no-Yakata Western, French · about JPY 3,500 per person
- Hippari Dako Japanese, Yakitori · about JPY 1,200 per person
- Gyoshintei Kaiseki, Vegetarian, Japanese · about JPY 5,500 per person
- Sanfield Nikko Yubamaki Japanese, Yuba · about JPY 1,000 per person
- Nikko Coffee Gyochaya Cafe, Japanese · about JPY 1,500 per person
Getting to Nikko
Nearest airport: Tokyo (Narita Intl) (NRT), about 122 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bus
- Train
- Walking