Getting there
Tokyo to Nikko: two railways, two hours, and which pass covers what
There are two entirely separate ways to reach Nikko by train and they leave from different parts of Tokyo, arrive at different stations and are covered by different passes. Choosing the wrong one is not expensive but it does cost an hour, and the hour matters on a day this long.
Quick answer
The Tobu line from Asakusa reaches Tobu Nikko in about two hours on a limited express, and is the faster and simpler route. JR runs from Tokyo or Ueno via Utsunomiya to JR Nikko in roughly two hours and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The two stations are a few minutes apart. From either, local buses reach the shrine in ten minutes and the lake in about fifty.
Getting to Nikko, at a glance
- Tobu, from Asakusa
- ~2 hourslimited express, the simplest route
- JR, via Utsunomiya
- ~2 hoursand it needs one change
- Japan Rail Pass
- Covers JR onlynot the Tobu line
- Tobu station
- Tobu Nikkothe terminus, and closer to the buses
- JR station
- JR Nikkoa few minutes’ walk from the Tobu one
- Station to shrine
- ~10 minby local bus, or 25 minutes on foot
- Station to the lake
- ~50 minby bus, up the Irohazaka road
- By car
- Possibleand the mountain road is slow in autumn
- On a tour
- Door to doorfrom $66
- Cancellation
- Free to 24 hon every tour on this page
Which line
Tobu or JR: which train to Nikko?
Tobu by default. JR if you already hold a Rail Pass.
Tobu, unless you are carrying a Japan Rail Pass.
The Tobu Nikko line runs from Asakusa in eastern Tokyo directly to Tobu Nikko station. On a limited express it is about two hours with no change, and the terminus is the closer of the two stations to the bus stands. It is the route the majority of independent visitors take and it is the one to default to.
The JR route runs from Tokyo or Ueno to Utsunomiya, then changes to the JR Nikko line for the last stretch. It is comparable in time, involves one change, and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass — which is the entire reason to choose it. If you are already holding a pass, this journey is free and the Tobu one is not.
Both stations sit at the bottom of the town, a few minutes apart, and both are served by the same bus routes up to the shrine and onward to the lake.
On arrival
Five practical things about getting around Nikko
The town is small and the distances between the sights are not.
- The shrine is uphill from the station
About twenty-five minutes on foot or ten by bus. The walk is pleasant and passes the Shinkyo bridge; the bus is better if the day is tight.
- The lake is another fifty minutes
By bus, up the Irohazaka road. This is the leg that catches people out: it is not a short hop and in autumn it is considerably longer.
- Bus passes exist and are worth it
Day passes covering the shrine area, or the shrine plus the lake, are sold at the stations and cost less than the individual fares if you are doing both.
- The last bus down is earlier than you think
Coming back from the lake, check the return time before you go up. Missing it is a taxi fare that will spoil the day’s arithmetic.
- Driving is possible but not recommended
The Irohazaka road is one-way in each direction with forty-eight hairpins, and in late autumn it is a queue. Every tour on this page uses it too, but somebody else is driving.
A tour removes the entire question, and the cheapest one on this page is a private guide.
Which tour is worth it→Every trip, current fare
Every tour, and where it collects you
Twelve tours, cheapest first. The coach days use set meeting points in Tokyo; the private ones collect from your hotel.
| Tour | Length | Price | Lake Chuzenji | Cost per hour | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Tour with English-Speaking GuideA private guide at a coach price | 10 h | $66 | If you want it | $6.60 | 5.0 · 45 |
| World Heritage Sites & Hot Spring Day TripThe World Heritage sites and a hot spring | 10 h | $71 | Not included | $7.10 | 5.0 · 1 |
| Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji & ToshoguThe most-reviewed Nikko day, lake included | 10.5 h | $74 | Included | $7.05 | 4.6 · 2,272 |
| Toshogu Shrine and Lake Chuzenji Day TripToshogu and the lake, no waterfall stop | 10 h | $75 | Included | $7.50 | 4.4 · 33 |
| Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Waterfall TourThe shrine and the waterfall, most booked | 10.5 h | $83 | Falls only | $7.90 | 4.5 · 1,506 |
| Guided Day Trip to the World Heritage SitesAll three World Heritage sites | 10 h | $88 | Not included | $8.80 | 4.7 · 75 |
| Private Customizable Day Tour with DriverA driver, a vehicle and your own itinerary | 10 h | $303 | If you want it | $30.30 | 5.0 · 26 |
| Full-Day Personal and Private TourA private day, rated 4.9 | 10 h | $311 | If you want it | $31.10 | 4.9 · 316 |
| World Heritage Site Private Day TripA private car and driver | 10 h | $337 | If you want it | $33.70 | 5.0 · 1 |
| Nikko Day Tour with English DriverAn English-speaking driver, flexible route | 10 h | $342 | Included | $34.20 | 4.8 · 23 |
| Private Tour: Toshogu Shrine & Kegon FallsToshogu, the lake and the falls, privately | 10 h | $397 | Included | $39.70 | 4.4 · 11 |
| World Heritage Site Private Full-Day TripThe most complete private day here | 10–11 h | $458 | If you want it | $43.62 | 5.0 · 436 |
Common questions
Getting to Nikko, answered
How do you get from Tokyo to Nikko?
Two ways. The Tobu line from Asakusa runs direct to Tobu Nikko in about two hours on a limited express. JR runs from Tokyo or Ueno via Utsunomiya to JR Nikko in a similar time with one change, and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Is Nikko covered by the Japan Rail Pass?
The JR route is — Tokyo or Ueno to Utsunomiya and then the JR Nikko line. The Tobu line from Asakusa is a private railway and is not covered.
How long does it take to get to Nikko from Tokyo?
About two hours each way by either railway. Add roughly fifty minutes more by bus if you are going up to Lake Chuzenji.
Which station should you use in Nikko?
Tobu Nikko if you come on the Tobu line, JR Nikko if you come on JR. They are a few minutes apart at the bottom of the town and both are served by the same buses.
How do you get from Nikko station to Toshogu?
A local bus takes about ten minutes, or it is a twenty-five minute walk uphill past the Shinkyo bridge.
Can you drive from Tokyo to Nikko?
Yes, in roughly two and a half hours, but the Irohazaka road up to the lake has forty-eight hairpins and in autumn it queues badly. Most visitors are better off letting somebody else drive it.
Go deeper
More on Nikko
Nikko Toshogu
The mausoleum of Ieyasu, and why it is covered in gold.
The dayA day trip from Tokyo
Ten hours, four of them travelling, and what fits into the rest.
All threeThe shrines and temples
Toshogu, Futarasan and Rinnoji, and what UNESCO listed.
The gateThe Yomeimon gate
508 carvings, no two the same, and one column upside down.
The monkeysThe three wise monkeys
One panel of eight, and the seven nobody photographs.
The waterfallKegon Falls
Ninety-seven metres out of a lake, and the lift to the base.
