Nikko

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 36.78331
• Longitude: 139.551422

On Travellerspoint

• 5 Nikko Guesthouses
• 2 Nikko Hostels
• 4 Nikko Hotels

Contributors

• Peter (72%)
  from My Shout
• Utrecht (28%)
  from http://utrecht.travellerspoint.com

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Introduction

Shoyoen Garden

© All Rights Reserved Peter

In the 8th century, the Buddhist priest Shōdō Shōnin founded the first temple at Nikko, the temple of Rinnō-ji, on his way to Mount Nantai. The village became a renowned Buddhist-Shinto religious centre, leading the renowned warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu to choose it as the site for his mausoleum. His grandson, Togugawa Iemitsu, had his shrine-mausoleum, Tosho-gu built in 1634, ensuring it would impress on any rivals the might of the Tokugawa clan. Iemitsu's own mausoleum, Taiyun-byo, is also located in Nikko, in a sublime setting of Japanese cedars. These shrines and temples make it a popular destination for travellers.

Sights and Activities

To get access to the main sights in Nikko's temple area, the most sensible option is to buy the combination ticket (¥1,000), which covers most of sights at the Tosho-gu and Taiyun-byo shrines and the Rinno-ji temple.

A guide can be hired for two hours for ¥5,500 for groups of up to 20 people.^[1]

Tosho-gu Shrine

The Tosho-gu Shrine is the burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the dynasty that ruled Japan for 250 years. The shrine is a dazzling display, created by his grandson Tokugawa Iemitsu. Some 15,000 artisans worked on the shrine for 2 years, decorating almost anything that could be decorated.

Open: 8am-4:30pm daily (3:30pm Nov-Mar). Ph: (0288) 54-0560

Taiyun-byo Shrine

Taiyun-byo Entrance

© All Rights Reserved Peter

The Taiyun-byo Shrine, completed in 1653, is Tokugawa Iemitsu's mausoleum. Several ornate gates ascend to the sanctuary (Haiden) and inner sanctuary (Honden). The shogun's ashes are beyond the final, sixth gate.

Open: 8am-4:30pm daily (3:30pm Nov-Mar). Ph: (0288) 53-1567.

Other

• The red-lacquered, wooden Shinkyo Bridge arches over the Daiya River, where, as legend would have it, Shodo Shonin crossed on the backs of two large serpents. The original bridge was built in 1636, for the exclusive use of the shoguns, but was destroyed by a flood. The current bridge was completed in 1907.
• Rinno-ji Temple was founded by Shodo Shonin in 766 and originally called Shihonryu-ji, until it became a Tendai-sect temple in the 17th century. Behind the temple, you will find the Shoyoen, a picturesque Edo style stroll-garden, carefully landscaped to be of interest no matter what the season is. (Open daily)
• Futura-san Shrine was dedicated to the gods of Mounts Nantai, Nyotai and Taro, their child by Shodo Shonin in the 8th century (Open daily).
• The Nikko Botanical Gardens are home to some 3000 varieties of flowers and plants from Japan and around the world. (Open Tue-Sun from Apr 15th - Nov 30th from 9am- 4pm. Adults: ¥330. Discounted prices for over 30 year olds and students).
• The Nikko Lacquer Museum (Nikko Urushi Hakubutsukan) showcases the lacquer arts of Nikko and Japan as well as examples from overseas. (Open Tue-Sun. Adults: ¥400. College, high school students: ¥300. Elementary school students: ¥200).

Events and Festivals

• Tosho-gu Grand Festival - May 17-18
• Tosho-gu Fall Festival - Oct 17

Getting There

By Train

The train is the most convenient way to access Nikko. The cheapest, most direct connection is on the Tōbu Nikkō Line (東武日光線) from Tokyo's Tobu-Asakusa station. The total journey should take about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
If you have a JR Rail pass, you can take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Ueno or Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya and then connect to the JR Nikko line. The total trip will can take from 1 hour and 40 minutes to over 2 hours, depending on the connection in Utsunomiya. Be sure to stop and admire the JR Nikko Station building itself, which was designed by renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Check the Japan Railways website for more information about schedules and prices.

By Car

By Bus

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

Several bus routes run through Nikko. Tobu Railway offers two passes covering rail transport from Asakusa to Nikko (see above) and unlimited hop-on-hop-off bus services around Nikko.
The All Nikko Pass is valid for four days and includes buses to Chuzenji-ko, Yumoto-Onsen and other regional destinations. The World Heritage Pass (Sekai-isan Meguri Pass, valid for two days) includes buses to the World Heritage sights, plus admission to Toshogu, Rinno-ji and Futarasan Jinja. Purchase these passes at the Tōbu Sightseeing Service Center in Tokyo-Asakusa station.

If you’ve already got your rail ticket (railway pass for example), two-day bus-only passes allow unlimited rides between Nikko and Yumoto Onsen or Nikko and Chuzenji Onsen, including the World Heritage sites. Alternatively, the Sekai-isan-meguri (World Heritage Bus Pass) covers the area between the stations and shrine precincts. Buy these at Tobu Nikko station.

By Foot

Most of the main sites in Nikko can easily be reached on foot, although the landscape is hilly, so you can expect to get somewhat worn out.

By Bike

Eat

• Gusto, opposite the tourist information office, has some good value meals.
• Hippari Dako is a typical travellers' resting place, serving yakitori (chicken kebabs), noodles and a range of vegetarian options. The little old lady who runs the place is very friendly and has earned herself some very good reviews from Lonely Planet, among others, which has only served to drive more business to her restaurant. The walls are plastered with business cards and notes from previous visitors.
• Nikko Kanaya Hotel serves up some classy, albeit pricey meals.

Drink

Sleep

Property	Address	Type	Popularity
Hotel Asian Garden	2478-25 Cyuguusi Nikko City Tochigi-Ken	Hotel	67
Hotel Lake Garden	2484 Cyuguusi TOCHIGI-KEN	Hotel	67
Kinsenkaku	410 Kinugawa onsen taki Nikko Tochigi	Hotel	63
Minshuku Narusawa Lodge	1462-22 Tokorono	Hotel	86
Minsyuku Rindo-no-ie	1462 Tokorono	Guesthouse	96
Nikko Cottage Inn FU-SHA	8-22,Takumi-cho,Nikko City,Tochigi	Guesthouse	100
Nikko Inn	333 Koshiro	Guesthouse	90
Nikko Park Lodge	2828-5 Tokorono	Hostel	79
Nikko Suginamiki Youth Hostel	2112- Kiwadashima Tochigi Prefecture sunlight city	Hostel	60
Pension Global	668, Tokorono	Guesthouse	-
VIVA Nikko	258 Matsubara-cho	Guesthouse	74
Annex Turtle Hotori-An	8-28 Takumi-cho	Guesthouse	-
Turtle Inn Nikko	2-16 Takumi-cho	Guesthouse	-
Nikko Daiyagawa Hostel	1075 Nakahatsuishi-machi	Guesthouse	-
Nikko Shi Koryu Sokushin Center		Guesthouse	-
Hotel Kanaya	1300 Kamihatsuishi-cho	Hotel	-

Keep Connected

Internet

• Milky House, a coffee shop at 2-2-3 Inari-machi charges ¥500 for 30min. Open 10am-10pm daily.
• The Tourist Information Centre offers internet at ¥100/30 minutes. Located on the main street, halfway between the station and the shrines at 591 Gokomachi.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

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