Nikko, Japan Travel Guide: The Best Quick Getaway From Tokyo

Nikko, Japan is one of the most popular and convenient getaway destinations from Tokyo. The area boasts stunning waterfalls, many historical temples and shrines, and beautiful natural scenery.

I personally prefer visiting Nikko over other popular destinations like Kyoto because of its convenience and abundance of outdoor activities.

During your trip to Nikko, you’ll hike, explore temples and shrines, paddle board, and eat at incredible restaurants. I’ve visited Nikko three times and in this travel guide I will give you my tips to make this your best quick getaway from Tokyo.

Visiting Tokyo too? Check out this guide about the best neighborhoods to stay in Tokyo.

What is the best itinerary for Nikko, Japan?

Nikko is one of the best weekend destinations from Tokyo. It takes about 2.5-3 hours to get to Nikko from Shibuya Station.

I advise spending 1-2 nights in the area so that you have enough time to explore the surrounding nature, visit the main temples, and wander around the town.

How To Get To Nikko

Train

Taking the train to Nikko is the cheapest, easiest, and most popular way to reach the town from Tokyo. The entire train journey takes roughly 2.5-3 hours.

The JR and Tobu Lines both serve the Nikko area and you can choose from a variety of different train combinations to reach Nikko. Pick the combination that is most convenient for your travel plans and fits your budget.

The route I usually take is to depart from Asakusa Station in east Tokyo and ride the limited express train to Tobu Nikko Station. This option departs twice an hour and costs roughly ¥2,750 per adult one-way. The train will either head to Kegon or Kinugawa; pick Kegon if you can because the train to Kinugawa requires a quick transfer at Shimo-Imaichi Station.

If you stay in the downtown Nikko area and don’t plan to go hiking or explore much, you may be able to survive without a car. If you stay near Lake Chūzenji or hope to go hiking, your life will be much easier with a car. I recommend that you take the train to Nikko then rent a car (Nissan Rent a Car or TOYOTA RENT A CAR are next to Nikko Station).

Drive

Driving from Tokyo to Nikko takes roughly 2-2.5 hours. If you’re fine driving and plan to use the car in Nikko, it may be more economical to rent the car from Tokyo and keep it for the duration of your trip.

Where To Stay In Nikko

Nikko has two main areas that I recommend you consider for your stay: the downtown city or near Lake Chūzenji. I have stayed in both areas and enjoyed them equally.

The downtown part of Nikko is better if you prefer to be within walking distance of the area’s famous temples and shrines or like having a greater selection of restaurants and shops to visit. Staying near the lake is better if you’d like to spend more time in nature and do outdoor activities.

For the downtown area, I recommend staying at:

I stayed in Nikko Hoshino Yado and the location was within walking distance of the city’s main temples and downtown area.

Near Lake Chūzenji, I suggest staying at:

I stayed in The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko twice and had phenomenal experiences both times. The onsen and the dining experiences were my favorite parts.

A room at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

The private bath inside a room at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

Day 1: Arrival, Kegon Falls, & Onsens

Afternoon

Sushi lunch at 鮨くろさき near Lake Chūzenji

Where To Eat

Once you drop off your things at your accommodation, enjoy a delicious lunch nearby.

For the Nikko downtown area, try:

1. Gyoza no Umechan (gyoza – Japanese potstickers)

2. SHIORI (Japanese restaurant specializing in tofu dishes)

3. 古民家日光 SABO (soft-serve ice cream)

Near Lake Chūzenji, try:

1. 鮨くろさき (sushi)

2. Tonkatsu Asai (tonkatsu – breaded, fried pork cutlet)

3. らーめん屋敷 (ramen)

What To Do

View of Kegon Falls

If you have a car or are staying near Lake Chūzenji, visit the dramatic Kegon Falls. The waterfall is nearly 100 meters tall and the most famous of the many waterfalls in the greater Nikko area.

You can also take the afternoon to wander around the downtown area of Nikko and explore the many boutiques (see my suggestions from Day 3!).

Evening

The bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

Enjoy a relaxing first evening in Nikko by visiting an onsen (communal bathhouse) and having a delicious dinner. Try one of my favorite spots below.

Best Onsens In Nikko

1. The spa/onsen at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

2. Hot Spring Hoyo Center Nikko Hot Spring

3. Day Spa Honoka

4. Nikkowanoshiro Onsen Yashio Hot Spring

Many of the hotels in the area have their own private onsens as well.

Get inspired for other trips with my guide to the best onsens in Japan.

Where To Eat

For the Nikko downtown area, try:

1. Mitoya Sushi (sushi)

2. Unagi Uotoku (eel specialty restaurant)

3. Katsusen (tonkatsu – breaded, fried pork cutlet)

Near Lake Chūzenji, try:

1. ZENの居酒屋 髙幡 (Izakaya – Japanese pub food)

2. Maple (Westernized Japanese)

3. LAKEHOUSE (Italian)

During my visits, I particularly enjoyed having a cocktail at the bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko for a special evening.

Day 2: Paddle Boarding & Hiking

Morning

Your second day in Nikko will be an active one! Spend the morning paddle boarding around Lake Chūzenji and the afternoon hiking to local waterfalls.

If you want to balance your activity level across the weekend (and don’t mind driving between destinations a bit more), feel free to swap out the morning or afternoon activities for today with visiting the temples that I describe in Day 3.

Where To Eat

The Japanese breakfast at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

Energize your morning with a hearty breakfast at one of the great restaurants below.

For the Nikko downtown area, try:

1. Honjin Cafe (coffee shop and cafe)

2. Niemon Cafe (cafe)

3. Hongu Cafe (coffee shop and cafe)

Near Lake Chūzenji, try:

1. TOKI COFFEE(HOUSE TOKI) (coffee shop)

2. SAZANAMI (cafe)

3. 日本料理 BY ザ (The Ritz-Carlton’s breakfast restaurant)

What To Do

Paddle board on Lake Chūzenji

After breakfast, rent paddle boards and spend a few hours on Lake Chūzenji. You can rent the boards through Sup! Sup! Nikko – note that you must go with one of their guides, who I always find to be very informative and nice.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, refuel with lunch and then change into your hiking gear! The hikes I suggest aren’t intense, but I still advise wearing comfortable athletic wear.

Where To Eat

Lunch at Coffee House Yukon

For the Nikko downtown area, try:

1. ユタの店 (ramen)

2. Kanenaga (“om-rice” – Japanese omelet rice)

3. Takita (Japanese)

Near Lake Chūzenji, try:

1. Adonis (Japanese curry, pasta, pizza)

2. 滝 (Japanese)

3. Coffee House Yukon (Japanese curry)

What To Do

Yudaki Falls near Nikko

In the afternoon, visit the waterfalls near Nikko. Drive to Yudaki Falls to begin your hike (the hike is an easy nature walk, but has significant stairs leading up to and down from Yudaki Falls). You will hike from Yudaki Falls to Ryuzuno Falls, with an optional loop out to the Odashirogahara marshlands.

If you prefer not to hike, you can instead just drive to Yudaki Falls and Ryuzuno Falls, respectively.

Enjoy smaller waterfalls as you hike from Yudaki Falls to Ryuzuno Falls

Budget about 2-3 hours to comfortably hike the entire loop from Yudaki Falls to Ryuzuno Falls (including time to take lots of photos!). I particularly enjoy visiting this area in the autumn when the leaves turn beautiful shades of red and orange.

Evening

In the evening, visit an onsen again before enjoying another delicious restaurant for dinner.

What To Eat

For the Nikko downtown area, try:

1. Masuya (Japanese)

2. 八百春鮨 (sushi)

3. Finbec Naoto (French)

Near Lake Chūzenji, try:

1. カフェ ド サヴォア (general Western)

2. Taro (general Western)

3. THE JAPANESE RESTAURANT (The Ritz-Carlton’s Japanese restaurant)

Day 3: Temples, Shrines, & Downtown Nikko

Morning

Start your morning with a quick breakfast either at your hotel or at one of the cafes I recommended in the itinerary for Day 2. Then, make your way to Shinkyo Bridge before the crowds arrive.

The grounds of Nikkō Tōshō-gū

After a quick photo opportunity at the bridge, walk toward the temple grounds. There are many temples and shrines in this area, but the main ones to visit are:

1. Nikkō Tōshō-gū

2. Five-storied Pagoda (Gojunoto)

3. Toshogu Grand Shrine

4. Yashamon Gate

5. Taiyu-in Temple Hall

All of the above are within walking distance of each other.

The entrance of Nikkō Tōshō-gū

Personally, I prefer visiting the temples and shrines in Nikko over the ones in Kyoto. There are far fewer tourists in Nikko and I love how the temple grounds are surrounded by towering forests and mountains. The many temples and shrines in Nikko are near each other, so it’s easy to see most if not all of them in a few hours.

The Inner Shrine Oratory of Nikkō Tōshō-gu

Afternoon

Before you return to Tokyo, walk through the downtown area of Nikko to explore the many boutiques.

A quick “dango” snack before returning to Tokyo

My favorite shops in Nikko are:

1. 竹本屋商店 (antique store)

2. Nikko Pudding Tei Main Store (gourmet pudding)

3. Miyamae Dango (dango – chewy mochi dumpling – store)

4. Niemon Cafe (cafe and ceramics)

5. 彩工房 (ceramics)

Enjoy Nikko!

As you can tell, there is plenty in Nikko, Japan which makes it the ideal getaway from Tokyo! Here’s a roundup of my recommendations from this guide:

Best Hotels In Nikko

For the downtown area:

1. Nikko Tokinoyuu ($)

2. Hotel Famitec Nikko Station ($)

3. Nikko Hoshinoyado ($$)

4. 日光金谷ホテル ($$)

5. Nikko Station Hotel Classic ($$)

Near Lake Chūzenji:

1. 奥日光ゲストハウスJUN ($)

2. Hatago Nagomi ($$)

3. Simplest Nikko ($$)

4. Hoshino Resorts KAI Nikko ($$$)

5. The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko ($$$)

Best Onsens In Nikko

1. The spa/onsen at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

2. Hot Spring Hoyo Center Nikko Hot Spring

3. Day Spa Honoka

4. Nikkowanoshiro Onsen Yashio Hot Spring

Best Restaurants In Nikko

For the Nikko downtown area:

1. Gyoza no Umechan (gyoza – Japanese potstickers)

2. SHIORI (Japanese restaurant specializing in tofu dishes)

3. 古民家日光 SABO (soft-serve ice cream)

4. Mitoya Sushi (sushi)

5. Unagi Uotoku (eel specialty restaurant)

6. Katsusen (tonkatsu – breaded, fried pork cutlet)

7. Honjin Cafe (coffee shop and cafe)

8. Niemon Cafe (cafe)

9. Hongu Cafe (coffee shop and cafe)

10. ユタの店 (ramen)

11. Kanenaga (“om-rice” – Japanese omelet rice)

12. Takita (Japanese)

13. Masuya (Japanese)

14. 八百春鮨 (sushi)

15. Finbec Naoto (French)

Near Lake Chūzenji:

1. 鮨くろさき (sushi)

2. Tonkatsu Asai (tonkatsu – breaded, fried pork cutlet)

3. らーめん屋敷 (ramen)

4. ZENの居酒屋 髙幡 (Izakaya – Japanese pub food)

5. Maple (Westernized Japanese)

6. LAKEHOUSE (Italian)

7. TOKI COFFEE(HOUSE TOKI) (coffee shop)

8. SAZANAMI (cafe)

9. 日本料理 BY ザ (The Ritz-Carlton’s breakfast restaurant)

10. Adonis (Japanese curry, pasta, pizza)

11. 滝 (Japanese)

12. Coffee House Yukon (Japanese curry) – temporarily closed as of February 2023

13. カフェ ド サヴォア (general Western)

14. Taro (general Western)

15. THE JAPANESE RESTAURANT (The Ritz-Carlton’s Japanese restaurant)

Best Activities In Nikko

1. Paddle boarding (rent from Sup! Sup! Nikko)

2. Hiking

3. Visiting temples/shrines

Best Shopping In Nikko

1. 竹本屋商店 (antique store)

2. Nikko Pudding Tei Main Store (gourmet pudding)

3. Miyamae Dango (dango – chewy mochi dumpling – store)

4. Niemon Cafe (cafe and ceramics)

5. 彩工房 (ceramics)

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4. The Five Best Luxury Hotels In Tokyo

5. How To Spend Three Days In Nozawa Onsen (Winter Itinerary)

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