Japan · UNESCO Heritage Sites

10-Hour Nikko Cultural and Natural Wonders Tour from Tokyo

10 Hours Round trip from Tokyo Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Nikkō Tōshō-gū, the UNESCO-listed shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu
02 See the famous "Three Monkeys" and "Sleeping Cat" carvings at Toshogu Shrine
03 Ride the Akechidaira Ropeway for panoramic views of Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, and Mount Nantai
04 Travel along the dramatic 48 curves of the Iroha Mountain Trail
05 Admire the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chuzenji, one of Japan's representative alpine lakes
06 Visit Kegon Falls, one of the "three famous waterfalls in Japan"

Discover some of Nikkō's best-known cultural and natural landmarks on this 10-hour tour from Tokyo. Visit the UNESCO-listed Nikkō Tōshō-gū, famed for its intricate carvings, historic halls, and sculptures such as the "Three Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat." Continue through the dramatic curves of the Iroha Mountain Trail, ride the Akechidaira Ropeway for panoramic views, and take in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chuzenji and the powerful Kegon Falls before returning to Tokyo in the evening.

Visit the UNESCO-listed Nikkō Tōshō-gū, famed for its intricate carvings, historic halls, and sculptures such as the "Three Monkeys" and the "Sleeping Cat."

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Tokyo, Nikkō

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Tokyo Departure from JR Tokyo Station or Shinjuku

8:00: Meeting point 1 - depart from JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit.
8:30: Meeting point 2 - depart from the Shinjuku West Exit, from the Sumitomo Mitsui Bank entrance.

Day 02

Explore the Historic Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shrine

10:40: Toshogu Shrine (120 minutes)
There are many Toshogu Shrines throughout Japan, but the most famous is Nikkō Tōshō-gū in Nikkō City, Tochigi Prefecture, the headquarters of all Toshogu Shrine palaces.
Toshogu Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate, the first shogunate of Japan. It was built in 1617.
After Tokugawa Ieyasu came to power, he used force to break through the warlords' territories and unify Japan.
After his death, he was revered as Edo.
The patron saint of the shogunate is Tosho Kamijun, so the shrine is called Toshogu Shrine.
Toshogu Shrine consists of 23 large and small temples, halls, and cloisters.
It is located in the Nikkō Mountains and is well proportioned to the surrounding landscape.
The architecture of Toshogu Shrine is exquisitely carved and magnificent.
The Japanese-style Mingyang Gate and the Chinese-style Tang Gate are its representative buildings.
Among the famous sculptures in Toshogu Shrine are the "Three Monkeys" (homophones in Japanese for "Don't Listen, Don't Talk, Don't See") and the "Sleeping Cat."
All buildings have been designated as Japan's national treasures and important cultural properties.
In December 1999, including Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shrine, the "Shrines and Temples of Nikko" were registered as a World Heritage site.
(Ticket fee: 1,300 yen, self-pay)

Day 03

Drive the Iroha Mountain Trail and Ride the Akechidaira Ropeway

14:00: Iroha Mountain Trail (non-stop tour, 5 minutes)
- Iroha Mountain Trail is located in Nikkō City.
- The winding mountain roads here resemble the steep mountain roads seen in movies.
- There are 48 sharp turns along this section of the mountain road, most of them 180-degree turns.
- The steepness of the Iroha-Zaka Highway is second to none in Japan.
- Surrounded by mountains, it is a great place to enjoy maple leaves.
- It is also the only way to visit famous attractions such as Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls.
- Because it has many tricky sharp turns, it is regarded as one of Japan's most difficult mountain roads, attracting countless drifting enthusiasts who come to challenge it.
Akechidaira Ropeway and Observation Deck (about 60 minutes; the price includes the cable car)
- The Akechidaira Ropeway is very popular on Nikkō tours.
- Take it to the observation deck at an altitude of 1,373 m, where you can enjoy front-facing views of the famous Nikkō attractions Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, and Mount Nantai.
- You can also take in the panoramic view of the surrounding majestic mountains.
- While the cable car is running, the spectacular scenery of Lake Chuzenji, Mount Nantai, and Kegon Falls appears before your eyes in sequence, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful scenery throughout the ride.
- In addition, you can also reach the first observation point in Nikkō - the Akechidaira Observation Deck.
- The viewing angle here is excellent, and the beautiful scenery is unobstructed.

Day 04

Discover Lake Chuzenji and the Majestic Kegon Falls

15:20: Lake Chuzenji (about 60 minutes)
- Lake Chuzenji has an area of 11.62 square kilometres, a circumference of 25 kilometres, and an altitude of 1,269 meters.
- The lake is 163 meters deep.
- Yukawa is the primary source of the lake's water; externally, it flows to the Otani River through Kegon Falls.
- Lake Chuzenji is a representative alpine lake in Japan.
- It was formed in a molten valley created by an eruption from Mount Nantai.
- The lake water is crystal clear.
Kegon Falls (stay for 30 minutes)
- The water from Lake Chuzenji flows down from a height of 700 meters to form the central part of the waterfall.
- The waterfall itself drops from a height of 97 meters.
- It rushes down the rock wall with significant momentum and has gorgeous shapes created by nature.
- 12 small waterfalls flow from the rock gap in the middle section, called the Twelve Falls.
- The flowing water creates a gorgeous landscape.
- In winter, the small waterfalls of the Twelve Falls freeze into green ice due to the cold weather, making Kegon Falls even more beautiful.
- It is one of the "three famous waterfalls in Japan."

Day 05

Return to Tokyo

17:00: Start returning (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours' drive)
19:00: Arrive in Tokyo
Passengers from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku will get off at the meeting point.

Where this trip takes you

Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Iroha Mountain Trail, Akechidaira Ropeway, Lake Chuzenji

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Tokyo 2 cities · 10 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Vehicle service charges listed in the itinerary
Vehicle fuel fees, tolls, and highway fees
Driver-guide service charge

What's Not Included

Accommodation fees
Meals
Attraction admission tickets
Other personal consumption expenses

Know before you go

This itinerary is fixed for carpooling. After the order is confirmed, the date cannot be changed at will, and you will be responsible for any losses caused. No refund will be given if you cannot participate in or cancel the trip due to personal reasons, lateness, or similar issues.
Participants must arrive at the designated location 10 minutes in advance according to the departure time. If you are more than 5 minutes late, the bus will no longer wait, and you will be deemed to have abandoned the trip.
Guests participating in this trip must adhere to the stay time at each attraction and comply with the driver's arrangements. If someone leaves the group alone during the itinerary, the transaction will be deemed invalid, and the fee will not be refunded. You are responsible for the consequences regarding personal and property safety.
Please carry your passport and valuables with you during your trip and make sure they are kept safe.
It is recommended that elderly travellers, patients with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart disease, and pregnant women be accompanied by relatives. If you are over 69 years old or pregnant, please inform us in advance when signing up.
The arrival time of each trip may vary due to traffic conditions, weather, festivals, crowds, and other factors during the day. If your trip is delayed due to the above or other force majeure factors, you cannot request a refund. You can apply for rescheduling or a refund if the trip is cancelled due to force majeure, such as natural disasters.
Please abide by local laws and regulations in Japan and do not carry items prohibited by Japanese law, to avoid violating the law and affecting your rights and interests.
Children under three years old are free if they do not occupy a seat; children over three years old are charged the same as adults.
Standard price: each person can carry one piece of baggage free of charge (must be informed in advance).
For more than one piece of luggage, an additional charge of JPY 2,000 per piece will be charged.

Logistics