Nikko
| The Good | The Not-So Good |
| Outstanding beauty | Crowded during April and October |
| Easy(ish) to get to by train | Do you need to see more temples? |
Nikko is a 2 hour train journey from Tokyo. After getting off the train the main town area can be accessed on foot with a variety of shrines and temples to visit including the famous World-Heritage sites. Nikko is serviced by two train companies which makes getting there complicated due to the competition forcing the Tobu company to offer discounts to foreigners so they can compete with the JR pass holders.
Popular side trips from Nikko
There are various nature spots to visit outside of the town itself, with the most popular being Lake Chuzenji (parts of what is called Oku-Nikko), which is accessible by bus from Tobu Nikko Station (details). A trip to Lake Chuzenji will allow you a visit to the Kegon Falls, which is a short walk from the bus stop. The bus is covered by the Nikko Free Pass should you buy it, or is ¥1,150 one-way without it.
Bad weather at Lake Chuzenji 
Lake Chuzenji?
Nearby is Edo Wonderland, which a popular historical theme park that is popular with tourists and can be accessed directly from Nikko by bus.
Buying a Nikko All Area pass?
Depending on how you decide to get there, buying a pass may or may not be the smartest things to do. JR pass holders can get to Nikko for free on JR lines. The pass just gets you free travel, not free entrance to the temples and shrines (those that charge like the World Heritage ones). If you don’t have a JR pass, buy the World Heritage pass as that will get you to Nikko and back for a discount. If you plan to go to Lake Chuzenji, then get the All Area Pass. If you have the JR pass, then pay as you go. Although a good plan might be to save your JR pass for another day, should you be tight for days left.
Getting to Nikko
There are 4 ways to get to Nikko: –
- JR line Shikansen from Tokyo station via Utsunomiya and then change for JR Nikko Line (all free with a JR pass).
- Tobu Nikko regular main line train directly to Nikko from Asakusa Station (map).
- Tobu Nikko Line SPACIA “Revaty Kegon” Trains from Asakusa (buying a Nikko pass is best).
- Bus from Tokyo station
All the above have good points and bad points, depending on if you have a JR pass or not.
| Method | Cost (Adult) | Start | Time | Ease |
| JR Line | ¥0 (with JR Pass) | Tokyo Station | ~1h:45m to 2h:10m depends on wait @ Utsunomiya | 1 Change Easy |
| Tobu Standard | Nikko Pass (two types) ¥2,000~¥4,250 or ~¥2,000 one way | Asakusa or Ueno Stations | Up to 2h:45m (example trip) | 2 Changes Difficult |
| Tobu Express | Nikko Pass (two types) ¥2,000~¥4,250 + express ticket charge (¥1,440 one-way) (20% discount with pass) | Asakusa Station | ~1h:50m direct using SPACIA “Revaty Kegon” or bit longer if changing | Directl or 1 change Easy |
| Highway Bus | ¥2,500 | Tokyo Station | ~3h depending on route | Easy] |
Buses are run by a few companies but the price tends to be the same. Examples are Willer Express and Japan Bus. In both cases you get off at Tobu Nikko Station. Willer Express can be annoying as their embarkation points at Tokyo station are not the same as the JR buses. Make sure you give yourself 30 minutes to get lost trying to find your bus.
Places to visit in Nikko
There is plenty of official information on Nikko already online. Examples include here and here (where you can buy your all areas pass or just the “famous temples” pass). There are access maps and walking guides in English available here that you can follow while in Nikko.
