Nikko Toshogu / Jpatokal · CC BY-SA 4.0
ITINERARY
Nikko in One Day: The Shrines and Temples Around Toshogu4 stops, in the order with the least travel time
On a day trip, focus on the shrines and temples around Toshogu, which are all within walking distance of each other. Save Oku-Nikko, up in the mountains, for a trip with a night's stay.
Planned and checked by Waka Travel (Japan) ·
- Trip
- Day trip
- Stops
- 4
- Total travel
- 1 h 15 mintrain & bus
Saves 12 min of travel compared with the obvious order(1 h 27 min → 1 h 15 min)
Assumes you arrive at Tobu-Nikko Station at 10:30 and leave Tobu-Nikko Station at 17:30 (a typical schedule when coming from the Tokyo area).
Seeing Toshogu properly takes 1.5–2 hours. The sightseeing boats on Lake Chuzenji don't run in winter (December to early April). In Oku-Nikko, there are hardly any evening buses to and from Yumoto Onsen.
Route and arrival times
All times are Japan time (JST), in 24-hour format.
Day 110:30–17:15 · travel 1 h 15 min
- 10:30Tobu-Nikko Station 東武日光駅Depart
- ↓ Travel 26 min
- 10:56Shinkyo Bridge 神橋30 min
- ↓ Travel 9 min
- 11:35Nikkozan Rinno-ji 日光山輪王寺1 h
- 12:35Lunch 1 h
- ↓ Travel 5 min
- 13:40Nikko Toshogu 日光東照宮2 h
- ↓ Travel 5 min
- 15:45Nikko Futarasan Shrine 日光二荒山神社1 h
- ↓ Travel 30 min
- 17:15Tobu-Nikko Station 東武日光駅Arrive
Travel times are estimates based on straight-line distance. They don't include transfers, timetables or opening hours (how far off they can be).
If you stay overnight in Nikko (general guide)
| If you're mainly visiting | Area to stay |
|---|---|
| Around Toshogu | Around Tobu-Nikko Station 東武日光駅周辺 |
| Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls (Oku-Nikko) | Chuzenji Onsen 中禅寺温泉 |
| Hot springs plus Toshogu | Kinugawa Onsen 鬼怒川温泉 |
| Hot springs plus Oku-Nikko | Yumoto Onsen 湯元温泉 |
General guidance, not calculated by this site.
If you have time
- Kegon Falls 華厳の滝
- Lake Chuzenji 中禅寺湖
- Ryuzu Falls 竜頭の滝
Left out to keep each day manageable.
Why this order
1 notes
- On the last day you finish at Nikko Futarasan Shrine and get back to Tobu-Nikko Station in 30 min (arriving 17:15).
FAQ
Can you see these 4 classic Nikko sights in a day?
Yes. In this order, even the longest day ends around 17:15, and travel adds up to 1 h 15 min in one day (travel times are estimates based on straight-line distance).
How long do I need at Toshogu?
Plan on 1.5–2 hours to look around Toshogu. This itinerary gives it 2 hours, from 13:40 to 15:40.
Can I see Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji on a day trip?
This day trip leaves them out and stays with the shrines and temples you can walk between. Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and Ryuzu Falls are up in Oku-Nikko, and we cover them on a route with a night's stay. If you go, note that the sightseeing boats on Lake Chuzenji don't run from December to early April.
Is Nikko covered by the JR Pass?
This itinerary starts at Tobu-Nikko Station on the Tobu Railway, a private line. The JR Pass site notes that on private railways you pay the fare for the section you use, and it lists the direct trains between Shinjuku and Tobu-Nikko among the services with Tobu Railway sections that need a separate charge.