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Nikko Toshogu

Nikko Toshogu: Our most recommended tours and activities

Nikko: Private Walking Tour with Local Guide

1. Nikko: Private Walking Tour with Local Guide

Discover Nikko on a fully customizable private tour. Choose what you would like to experience, what time you would like to start your tour, and the local partner will arrange a tour to suit you. Start your day by meeting your guide and then choose the sites you wish to visit depending on your interests. Example 6-hour Itinerary: Meet your guide at Tobu Nikko Station and get the bus to Nikko Tosho-gu shrine. Discover the impressive carvings of the shrine which showcase the techniques of Edo period craftsmen. See carvings of animals, such as the three monkeys said to be admonishing mankind, the sleeping cat, as well as ornate buildings and a five-storied pagoda. Hop on the next bus to Lake Chuzenji via Iroha Zaka. Enjoy the views throughout the journey on this famous winding road. Enjoy lunch by Lake Chuzenji with the brilliant colors of the leaves contrasting with the lake's pristine waters. Take a short walk along the shore of the lake to better experience the beautiful scenery. Continue to Kegon Falls, one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan. See the water flowing from Lake Chuzenji as it falls from a height of 97 meters. To experience the full power of the waterfall, take the elevator to the viewing platform at the base of the falls where you can view them up close.

Tokyo: Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Waterfall Tour

2. Tokyo: Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Waterfall Tour

After meeting at 7:50AM, your tour leader will greet you at the ground floor of the Shinjuku Subaru Building next to the Shinjuku JR Station west exit. At 8:00AM, you will depart from Shinjuku to Tochigi prefecture, where Nikko City is located. At around 10:30AM, you will travel to the first stop on your tour, the Nikko Toshogu Shrine. This shrine is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868, known as the Edo Period. You can appreciate the beauty of this shrine complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, whilst learning the interesting stories and legends of the buildings from your guide. After visiting the Nikko Toshogo Shrine, you will pass through the Iroha Slope. It is famous for its 48 sharp turns along its route, and is portrayed in the animation ”Initial D”. The road is very popular for its autumn leaves in the fall. At 12:30PM, you will arrive at the Kegon Waterfall. This almost 100-meter-tall waterfall is the most famous of Nikko's many beautiful waterfalls. It is even ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful falls, along with the Nachi Waterfall in the Wakayama Prefecture and the Fukuroda Waterfall in the Ibaraki Prefecture. At 2:00PM, your tour will be separated into two groups, you can choose according to your preference to either walk along Lake Chuzenji, or to experience the Nikko hot spring. Before finishing your tour, you will stop by the Onihei Edo service area, which is the most interesting service area with edo style design and traditional souvenirs. At 6:00PM, you will be dropped back at the Shinjuku Subaru Building, where your tour will end.

From Tokyo: UNESCO Shrine and Nikko Scenic Spots Bus Tour

3. From Tokyo: UNESCO Shrine and Nikko Scenic Spots Bus Tour

See the Shinto shrines of Nikko on a guided tour from Tokyo. Admire the architecture and spiritual significance of these UNESCO Heritage Sites as well as the scenic views of Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji, with a lunch also included. Start the tour from either Shinjuku or Shinagawa in downtown Tokyo. Relax on an air-conditioned bus and first to have about an hour for a delicious lunch in Nikko. After lunch, move on to the holy sites of the city, the UNESCO heritage Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Futara-san Shrine. Toshogu Shrine is the final resting place of General Tokugawa Ieyasu. Be amazed by the masterpiece mixture of Japanese spirits with ancient Oriental building designs.  Learn the history of Futarasan Shrine which is dedicated to the deities of Nikko's 3 most sacred mountains, Mount Nantai, Mount Nyoho, and Mount Taro. Admire the golden details of the main hall in the shrine, while being surrounded by stunning autumn colors. Climb up the thrilling 48 turns of the Irohazaka slope. Head to your first tour destination, the breathtaking Kegon Falls, at around 100 meters high. Follow the stream to the scenic Lake Chuzenji. During autumn, you can take pictures of the seasonal colors with the lake in the background. At the end of the tour return to Shinjuku.

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What people are saying about Nikko Toshogu

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 67 reviews

Our guide had extensive experience and knowledge of the area. They were accommodating with regards to drop-off and pickup points and were available at hand for any help and advice. We would highly recommend their services for anyone wishing to tour the area.

Our guide was sooo good. She spoke great English and was so informative about the sites. She was very attentive too. The Toshogu Shrine was beautiful and the waterfall was spectacular. Also, the bus and driver were excellent.

if you want to go to Nikko from Tokyo, it would be very convenient to just follow a tour like this. The guide do a good job in introducing the places and keeping time check

I enjoyed this immensely! Takes all the thinking out of travelling to some key tourist spots in Nikko. Waterfall was extremely beautiful.

A very nice trip. The guide was great and explained everything to us nicely! Recommended trip to Nikko.