Day trips from Tokyo by train! Immerse yourself in the fun of Nikko, where you can enjoy World Heritage and hot springs!
The appeal of Nikko includes Nikko Toshogu Shrine and other World Heritage sites, as well as Kegon Falls, plentiful nature and hot springs. Trains are an efficient way to get there from Tokyo. To travel from Tokyo Station to Nikko Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station, which takes about an hour, then transfer to the JR Nikko Line, and you will arrive approximately 40 minutes later. Day trips from Tokyo are no problem with this distance.
▼Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was active some 400 years ago, is enshrined at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Address:2301, Sannai, Nikko City, Tochigi
▼The enormous Kegon Falls, which abruptly drop down a steep, 97-meter cliff.
Address:2479-2, Chugushi, Nikko City
▼Kinugawa Onsen, a large hot springs resort where hotels and ryokan stand side by side in a ravine.
Kinugawa-onsen Station Address:1390, Kinugawaonsen-ohara, Nikko City, Tochigi
It is said that many people who choose Nikko as their travel destination have trouble deciding which of the many highlights to visit. If you find yourself feeling this way, stop by the JR Nikko Station Tourist Information Center, which opened inside the Nikko Station building on April 16, 2015.
The center has staff on hand who will advise visitors face to face and help them get the tourism information they need. (The staff speak Japanese and English only.) Also, digital signage shows such information as the weather and the best times for flower viewing in realtime, so you can quickly grasp the best places to go at a given time.
You can also use the free wireless Internet or Internet-ready computers, among many other convenient services. The center has an English map with coupons called the Nikko Walking Map as well, providing welcome bargains for enjoying Nikko. (Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
It is also possible to get to Nikko by train from Shinjuku Station. There are also limited express trains that will take you directly to Tobu Nikko Station without transfers, so check the timetable!
The JR Kanto Area Pass is recommended when traveling by train from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station, as discussed in this article. This ticket allows you to ride trains freely within the target area for three consecutive days, so by all means get one!
Click here for details on the JR Kanto Area Pass.
Also, the upcoming season is perfect for traveling because the greenery is beautiful and it's not too hot. The hiking event Ekikara Hiking will be held until June 30, 2015! Anyone can participate and enjoy superb seasonal views, and you return the same day.
Refresh your mind and body in charming Nikko, where you can enjoy history, nature and gourmet food!