JP · Tochigi Prefecture · 36.72°N 139.70°E

nikko

Ornate Toshogu shrine, misty waterfalls and fiery autumn leaves, two hours from Tokyo.

Best time
October to early November for autumn leaves, which start up at the lake and move down to the town. Summer is cooler than Tokyo, and winters are cold, with snow higher up.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly to Tokyo (about 7 hours from KL). Tobu limited express trains run from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko in about 2 hours. JR travellers can take the shinkansen to Utsunomiya and change to a local train.
Save postcard
JP · Tochigi Prefecturenikko36.72°N 139.70°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Ornate Toshogu shrine, misty waterfalls and fiery autumn leaves, two hours from Tokyo.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingNikkoJP, Tochigi Prefecture
KLnikko
≈ 5,387 km from KL, as the crow flies
Yomeimon (陽明門) gate at Nikko Toshogu, Nikko, Japan. The gate dates back to the 1600s and is out of copyright.

Photo: Jpatokal · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A mountain town north of Tokyo where the shoguns built their grandest shrines. Toshogu's carved and gilded buildings sit in a cedar forest, and higher up, Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls are famous for autumn colour.

Makan

  1. YubaTofu skin, Nikko's speciality, served fresh, rolled or in soups.Map ↗
  2. Utsunomiya gyozaIf you come via Utsunomiya, the city is famous for its dumplings.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Nikko ToshoguThe lavish shrine and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Look for the three wise monkeys and the sleeping cat carvings.Map ↗
  2. Taiyuin and Futarasan ShrineTaiyuin is the quieter mausoleum of Ieyasu's grandson; Futarasan dates back to the 8th century.Map ↗
  3. Shinkyo BridgeThe red lacquered bridge over the river at the entrance to the shrine area.Map ↗
  4. Kegon Falls and Lake ChuzenjiA tall waterfall pouring out of a mountain lake, up the hairpin Irohazaka road.Map ↗
  5. Kanmangafuchi AbyssA riverside walk past a long row of stone Jizo statues in red caps.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Autumn weekends bring heavy traffic up the Irohazaka road to the lake; go early on a weekday if you can.
  • Tobu sells Nikko passes that cover the train from Asakusa and local buses, which can work out simpler.
  • The shrine area has lots of stone steps, and you take your shoes off in some halls.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.