Travelling to Nikko

Travel to Nikko – magnificent World Heritage sites and dramatic mountain scenery

The Japanese saying “Don’t say kekko (magnificent) until you’ve seen Nikko” says it all. This historic mountain town, about two hours north of Tokyo in Tochigi Prefecture, has been a spiritual centre for Shintoism and Buddhism for centuries, nestled in Nikko National Park.

Toshogu – a masterpiece of the shogunate

Nikko’s main attraction is Toshogu Shrine, the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu – founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which unified Japan. Unlike Japan’s traditionally understated temple architecture, Toshogu is an opulent display of gold, intricate wood carvings and vivid patterns. Here you’ll find the world-famous carvings of the three monkeys who hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil, as well as the sleeping cat (Nemuri-neko).

UNESCO heritage and shrines

Together with Toshogu, Futarasan Shrine and Rinno-ji Temple make up Nikko’s official UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is linked by ancient cedar avenues and the iconic red-lacquered Shinkyo Bridge, which marks the entrance to the sacred mountains.

Okunikko – lakes, waterfalls and onsen

Continue farther into the mountains along the winding Irohazaka Road and you’ll reach Okunikko. Here, the mirror-like crater lake Chuzenji lies at the foot of Mount Nantai, a volcano. Nearby, the 97-metre-high Kegon Falls plunges straight into the gorge – one of Japan’s most famous waterfalls. At the end of the lake lies the resort town of Nikko Yumoto Onsen, known for its hot sulphur springs, where you can bathe with a view of the mountains.

Hiking and nature experiences

Nikko is a favourite with hikers thanks to the Senjogahara Plateau, a vast wetland with wooden boardwalks that wind through the landscape. During the autumn months (October), the entire mountain range becomes a spectacular display of red and gold, making Nikko one of Japan’s top destinations for experiencing autumn foliage.