Nikko Toshogu Shrine Travel Guide:Top Highlights, How Long to Visit, and a Model Itinerary-Fully Explained!

Tokugawa Ieyasu, who died in 1616, was laid to rest in a Shinto-style funeral at Kunozan in Shizuoka.
The following year, in accordance with his last wishes, the second shogun Tokugawa Hidetada had his remains moved to Nikko, and Nikko Toshogu Shrine was established.
Originally a modest shrine, it underwent a major reconstruction in 1636 (the Kan’ei Grand Restoration) led by the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, who deeply admired Ieyasu.
As a result, a lavish complex of buildings symbolizing the authority of the Tokugawa family was completed.
In 1999, it was registered as a World Heritage site in recognition of its outstanding architecture and artistry, as well as its sacred spaces harmonizing with nature.

There are several ways to get from Tokyo to Nikko.
The route via Utsunomiya from Tokyo Station by shinkansen is fast, but fares are higher than local trains or highway buses. Choose the option that best fits your schedule and budget.

We also recommend using “NIKKO MaaS,” a digital sightseeing pass service that lets you book and use transportation and experiences in Nikko with just your smartphone.
There are five types of passes, and if you’re visiting Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the “Digital Nikko World Heritage Area Pass” is especially convenient.
It offers unlimited rides on trains and buses within designated sections, including Asakusa, Tobu-Nikko Station, and the “Nishi-Omotesando” bus stop.
You’ll also receive perks you can use at restaurants and souvenir shops around Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
In addition, you can purchase admission tickets for sightseeing spots—including Nikko Toshogu Shrine—right from your phone.
Being able to manage your transit pass and tickets in one place is another major advantage for smooth sightseeing.

The Yomeimon Gate, designated a National Treasure, is famed as the most beautiful gate in Japan.
It features over 500 carvings, including sacred creatures such as dragons, kirin, and Chinese lions, as well as scenes based on Chinese legends. Because it’s said you could look at it all day without getting bored, it’s also known as the Higurashi-mon (“All-Day Gate”).
There are many highlights beyond the carvings, too—such as the “inverted pillar,” intentionally left imperfect based on the idea that “completion marks the beginning,” and the gleaming onigawara (ogre roof tile) at the top, said to watch over the gate to keep wrongdoers from entering.
After the major Heisei-era restoration completed in 2017, the Yomeimon Gate shines brighter than ever—and it’s not to be missed.

The East and West Corridors are a U-shaped walkway extending left and right from the Yomeimon Gate, stretching 220 meters in total, and are designated a National Treasure.
Believed to have been created with prayers for peace, the corridors are especially known for their over 200 carvings along the walls, made using openwork carving (a technique that cuts through the base board to create patterns).
The fact that each carving is sculpted from a single board speaks to the exceptional skill of the artisans.
You’ll be impressed by the dynamic designs that make flowers and birds seem to leap out, along with the vivid colors.

The Three Wise Monkeys—three monkeys each covering their eyes, ears, or mouth—are among Nikko Toshogu Shrine’s most famous carvings.
They are carved on the Sacred Stable (Shinkyu-sha), where the horses that serve the deities are kept; the building itself is also designated an Important Cultural Property.
Because monkeys were believed to protect horses, they were chosen as the motif.
The outer walls of the Sacred Stable feature 16 monkeys across eight panels, arranged like a story that uses a monkey’s life to represent a human life.
The Three Wise Monkeys appear in one scene and convey the life lesson: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Be sure to look at the other panels as well and see what kind of story they tell.

The “Sleeping Cat” is a carving on a small gate along the East Corridor leading to the Okumiya (Ieyasu’s mausoleum). It’s as famous as the Three Wise Monkeys and is also designated a National Treasure.
Depicting a cat peacefully sleeping beneath peonies, it is said to have been carved by the legendary sculptor Hidari Jingoro.
On the reverse side of the gate, you’ll also find two sparrows carved playing in a bamboo grove—another detail not to miss.
The front-and-back composition of the cat and sparrows is said to represent the idea that “because the cat is sleeping, the sparrows can live in peace.”
It’s widely known as a carving symbolizing Tokugawa Ieyasu’s achievement in ending the Warring States period and the arrival of a peaceful era.

Along with the Sleeping Cat and the Three Wise Monkeys, the “Imagined Elephant” is considered one of Nikko Toshogu Shrine’s three great carvings.
It was created by Edo-period painter Kano Tan’yu, who had never seen a real elephant and therefore depicted it from imagination—hence the name.
Its distinctive look, including golden tusks and three tails, differs from an actual elephant and highlights Kano Tan’yu’s imagination and artistry.
Comparing it with photos of real elephants makes its unique interpretation even more enjoyable.
This “Imagined Elephant” is carved on the Kamijinko, a building that stores valuable tools used for festivals.

Rising 36 meters at the entrance to Toshogu, the Five-Story Pagoda is designated an Important Cultural Property.
Its most distinctive feature is a unique structural style in which the central pillar (shinbashira) is suspended.
The central pillar is separated from the main structure of the tower, hung from above by a chain, and its bottom floats Approx. 10 cm above the foundation stone.
Thanks to this design, when earthquakes or strong winds occur, the central pillar sways like a pendulum and vibrates at a different timing from the tower itself, offsetting and reducing the shaking.
Its earthquake resistance is said to be extremely high, and it reportedly suffered no damage during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Another unusual feature is that the first through fourth stories are built in the Japanese style, while the fifth story uses a Chinese style.
The carvings of the 12 zodiac animals on the first story are also a highlight, revealing the artisans’ skill and sense of beauty down to the finest details.

The Karamon Gate stands as the only gate directly in front of the main shrine and plays an important role.
This prestigious gate—once reserved only for those of high rank—is designated a National Treasure.
Coated in gofun (white pigment) to create an all-white finish, it has a striking presence, and its curved karahafu gable roof immediately draws the eye.
Be sure to look closely at the pillars and doors made with imported marquetry from Southeast Asia, as well as the carvings of the sacred creatures tsutsuga and dragons.

Painted primarily in vermilion, the Omote-mon Gate is the first gate you pass through to enter Toshogu, and it is also known as the Niomon Gate.
Although this is a Shinto shrine, the gate has a typical Buddhist temple layout, with Nio guardian statues enshrined on the left and right sides of an eight-pillared gate (hakkya-mon).
This is said to be a remnant of the era of Shinbutsu-shugo (a form of worship in which Shinto and Buddhism were intertwined), and it is also designated an Important Cultural Property as a valuable example of architecture from that period.
Don’t miss the 4-meter-tall Nio statues, as well as the Chinese lion-dog (karajishi) statues on the inside of the gate.

The Main Shrine (Gohosha) is built in the gongen-zukuri style, where the honden (main sanctuary), ishi-no-ma, and haiden (worship hall) are connected as one structure. It is also designated a National Treasure.
As the most important place within Toshogu, it is also known as the site where the annual Grand Festival (Reitaisai) is held.
The main sanctuary alone features 2,468 carvings—roughly half of all the carvings on the grounds—and many depict baku, creatures believed to eat nightmares and symbolize peace.
You’ll be overwhelmed by the extraordinary craftsmanship and the lavish array of decorations.

Behind the Main Shrine is the Okumiya (Inner Shrine), designated an Important Cultural Property.
It consists of the Inuki-mon Gate, a worship hall, and the Goho-to (treasure pagoda), and it is known as Tokugawa Ieyasu’s mausoleum.
After passing through the gate adorned with the Sleeping Cat carving, you’ll climb 207 stone steps to reach Okumiya.
Along the way, there’s also a sign displaying Tokugawa Ieyasu’s precepts: “Life is like carrying a heavy load on a long road. Don’t rush.”—a glimpse into his outlook on life.
Near the Goho-to, you’ll also find the Kanae-sugi, a cedar tree said to make wishes come true, adding to the area’s deeply sacred atmosphere.

Nikko Futarasan Shrine is dedicated to the main peak of the Nikko mountain range—known as the Nikko Sanzan—as sacred mountains. It is also known for blessings related to good fortune and matchmaking.
The beautiful vermilion-lacquered wooden bridge Shinkyo, which marks the entrance to the Nikko Sannai area, is a structure belonging to Futarasan Shrine. It can be considered the gateway to the World Heritage site “Shrines and Temples of Nikko.”

Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple is a collective name for its halls, pagodas, and sub-temples as a whole. It is said to have begun when Shodo Shonin, the founder of Nikko, built Shihonryuji Temple.
The Sanbutsudo Hall is Nikkozan’s largest wooden structure and enshrines three Buddhist statues: Senju Kannon, Amida Nyorai, and Bato Kannon.
Another appeal is seasonal scenery: in spring you can see the Kongozakura cherry tree, estimated to be 500 years old, and in autumn you can enjoy the fall foliage at Shoyoen Garden.

A stone Western-style restaurant in a Meiji-era building, located near the World Heritage site Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
It was originally built as a villa for the American trader F.W. Horn, who first introduced the phonograph to Japan. It is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property.
The most popular dish is omurice (omelet rice): rich chicken rice flavored with ketchup, fluffy, melting egg, and a carefully prepared demi-glace sauce.

A restaurant at Nikko Kanaya Hotel, Japan’s oldest existing resort hotel, founded in 1873.
It marked its 150th anniversary in 2023. When the main building was remodeled into a three-story structure in 1936, the hotel lobby of the time was transformed into the Main Dining Room.
Decorative elements such as capital carvings and ornaments known as karyobinga are original pieces from long ago, and you can enjoy Kanaya Hotel’s traditional French cuisine in a classic atmosphere.

A Japanese-modern spot in a renovated traditional house along Nikko Kaido, near Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
The signature dish is Nikko yuba-maki, which wraps rice and local ingredients in Nikko yuba, a specialty of Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture.
Owner-chef Naoki Saito, who trained in French and Japanese restaurants, pairs Nikko yuba with carefully selected ingredients—such as Mae-Nikko Kogen wagyu, Tochigi wagyu, and seasonal local vegetables—chosen with his own discerning eye.

A long-established hotel founded in 1873 and known as Japan’s oldest existing resort hotel.
Its Western-style exterior incorporates Japanese furnishings and architectural elements throughout, and its historic prewar building is registered as a nationally designated Tangible Cultural Property.
Because the founder, Zenichiro Kanaya, served as a court musician (gagaku performer) for Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the hotel features carvings throughout that evoke the shrine, including the “Imagined Elephant.”

The small luxury resort Fufu Nikko is in a prime location within walking distance of the World Heritage area, including Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
Its antique-inspired design makes an impression, making the most of a luxurious style that blends Japanese and Western elements.
All rooms are suites, with 24 rooms across six types. Each room has its own distinct color scheme and interior design.
Every room also features its own hot spring bath fed by the resort’s private source—an especially luxurious touch.

Kamenoi Hotel Oku-Nikko Yumoto sits by Lake Yunoko in the Oku-Nikko area of Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture.
Surrounded by Oku-Nikko’s great outdoors, it’s an ideal place to unwind away from the bustle of everyday life.
One of its standout features is soaking to your heart’s content in the milky, cloudy waters known as nigori-yu, as the chloride spring turns milky white when exposed to air, in the large public bath and open-air bath.
In the open-air bath, you can soak under Oku-Nikko’s beautiful starry sky and enjoy deeply relaxing time.

Depart Tokyo’s Asakusa Station in the morning and ride the limited express “Spacia X” for Approx. 2 hours.
After arriving in Nikko, visit the World Heritage “Shrines and Temples of Nikko,” centered around Toshogu, and experience its history and art up close.
For lunch, enjoy authentic cuisine in a Western-style building from the Meiji era, then spend the afternoon visiting Rinnoji Temple and Futarasan Shrine.
In the evening, stay at a historic hotel such as Nikko Kanaya Hotel and take it easy.

On Day 2, slow down and focus on nature and hot springs.
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy the grand scenery of Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls.
At Oku-Nikko Yumoto Onsen, soak in the milky, cloudy nigori-yu waters and ease away travel fatigue.
It’s the perfect way to wrap up your trip while taking in Nikko’s natural beauty and hot spring culture.