Typical Nov · 9° / 1°
Autumn pick: Shinkyō Bridge

Nikko

Watch 2 days unfold, then make them yours. Nikko's best, planned around opening hours.

Use this 2-day plan See stays in Nikko

Day 1 · 9:00 AM

Nikkō Tōshōgū

Shrine · 2 h 30 min

See the full 2-day plan

Nikko at a glance

Nikko is a city known for its ornate shrines and temples, set within a mountainous national park.

About Nikko

Nikko is a popular tourist destination in Japan, covering a quarter of Tochigi prefecture. The city is known for its UNESCO World Heritage mausoleums of two Tokugawa Shoguns, which feature ornate, multicolored carvings and gold leaf.

The actual town of Nikko is on the southern side of Nikko City, along the Daiya River. To the west, about an hour away by bus, are Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon Falls, also known as Oku-Nikkō.

Tōshōgū shrine
Tokugawa Ieyasu mausoleum
Three wise monkeys carving
Kegon Falls
Yuba tofu skin

How long to stay

2 days

2+ days will allow you to see more of Tochigi.

Best time to go

Autumn

May–Jul, Sep are the mildest.

Getting around

The JR and Tobu stations have Tourist Information Centers. To reach the shrines, take a Tobu Bus (about a 6-minute ride) or walk for about a half-hour. Various tourist bus passes are available from the JR station.

Nikko in 2 days

Each day stays in one part of town, timed around opening hours, with lunch on the way.

Day 1

Around Nikkō Tōshōgū

9:00 AM – 5:26 PM

Nikkō Tōshōgū9:00 AM
Rin’nōji Taiyū-in (Mausoleum of Iemitsu)11:35 AM
Lunch at Hippari-DakoClosed Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays1:25 PM
Shinkyō Bridge2:29 PM
Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial ParkClosed Tuesdays3:49 PM
Kanmangafuchi Abyss4:26 PM

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Day 2

Around Kegon Waterfalls

9:00 AM – 2:03 PM

Kegon Waterfalls9:00 AM
Kegon Falls Observation Deck (elevator fee applies)10:18 AM
Lake Chūzenji11:48 AM
Chūzen-ji Temple1:03 PM

Personalize Day 2

Add dates, swap places and book stays, free in Pilot.

Use this 2-day plan

Where to stay in Nikko, by area

Every part of town at a glance: what's near, and where you'd sleep, with tonight's price.

Nikkō Tōshōgū

Nikkō Tōshōgū4.5 · 33K
Shinkyō Bridge4.2 · 9.8K
Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park4.4 · 2.3K

Stays near Nikkō Tōshōgū

See all stays in Nikko

When to visit Nikko

Weather by month, and what's best each season.

Best time to visit

Autumn

Best: May–Jul, Sep
Hottest: Aug · 27°C
Coldest: Jan · -7°C
Wettest: Jul · 210 mm

Jan: -7 to -1°C, 80 mm of rain. Feb: -7 to 0°C, 54 mm of rain. Mar: -3 to 6°C, 99 mm of rain. Apr: 1 to 13°C, 106 mm of rain. May: 7 to 18°C, 114 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Jun: 12 to 21°C, 172 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Jul: 17 to 26°C, 210 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Aug: 18 to 27°C, 203 mm of rain. Sep: 14 to 22°C, 208 mm of rain, one of the mildest months. Oct: 7 to 16°C, 146 mm of rain. Nov: 1 to 9°C, 91 mm of rain. Dec: -4 to 2°C, 83 mm of rain.