10 Things To Do in Nikko Japan

10 Things To Do in Nikko Japan

Located approximately two hours away from Tokyo by train and boasting a blend of serene natural beauty and storied historical treasures, Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture is one of the top destinations for travelers visiting Japan. Below, you will find ten suggestions to enhance your experience during your visit to Nikko.

  1. Lake Chuzenji Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Experience

Lake Chuzenji offers an idyllic setting to immerse oneself in the splendor of Japan's nature and culture, with the beautiful scenery surrounding the lake changing based on the season. In summer, you can relax and enjoy activities by the lake, enveloped by vibrant greenery. In autumn, the lakeside and encircling mountains are transformed by a breathtaking display of foliage, creating a magnificent scene across the landscape. The stand-up paddleboarding experience is highly recommended as a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Chuzenji with family and friends. The area around Lake Chuzenji is also home to Kegon Falls, which ranks as one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan, with the image of water from Lake Chuzenji plummeting from a towering height of 97 meters being an awe-inspiring sight to behold.  No matter when you visit Lake Chuzenji, be sure to stop by Kegon Falls.

Nikko Japan

  1. Kinugawa River Rafting & Canyoning

While the Kinugawa area in Nikko is famous for its hot springs, there are also many fantastic outdoor activities you can experience. In summer, visitors can enjoy rafting down the rapids amidst the beautiful scenery of the Kinugawa River valley, as well as canyoning, which allows you to dive into the basin beneath a waterfall. These outdoor activities are operated by a company in Nikko called Kinugawa Rafting NAOC, which offers 1-day adventure tours that include a half day each of both rafting and canyoning in the Kinugawa area. If you want to make the most of your time in Nikko, a day of rafting and canyoning is the perfect addition to any sightseeing trip.

Nikko Japan

  1. The Shrines and Temples of Nikko

Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the "Shrines and Temples of Nikko" are comprised of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Nikko-san Rinnoji Temple, Nikko Futarasan Shrine, and the various other structures surrounding these buildings. Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the most famous of Nikko's shrines and temples, is a shrine dedicated to the famous warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu, with its magnificent and intricately adorned architecture captivating all who visit. With over 1,250 years of history, Rinnoji Temple has been influenced by a unique blend of Buddhism, Shintoism and mountain worship. Also not to be missed is Nikko Futarasan Shrine, which honors the three mountain deities of Mt. Nantai, Nyoho, and Taro, and Shinkyo Bridge, also referred to as the gateway to Nikko. Nikko features numerous historical structures that exemplify Japan's rich cultural heritage, and we highly encourage you to explore them.

Nikko Japan

  1. British Embassy Villa Memorial Park & Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park

From the late 1880s through the 1920s, the shores of Lake Chuzenji often served as a bustling international summer retreat. Ernest Satow, a British diplomat and influential figure in Japanese history, loved Oku-Nikko so much that he built a villa on the shore of Lake Chuzenji in 1896, so he could enjoy the beautiful scenery and pursue his hobby of mountain climbing. The Italian Embassy Villa, also located on the shore of Lake Chuzenji, was built in 1928 and features a modern blend of Japanese and Western styles. Both embassies also contain a café where you can enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while admiring the beautiful scenery.

Nikko Japan

  1. Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura

Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura is a theme park that recreates the atmosphere of Japan’s Edo period, allowing visitors to feel as if they are stepping back in time to experience the lifestyle and culture of that era. It has also been used as the filming location for various Japanese movies set in that time period. Would you like to experience the age of the ninja and samurai while walking through the ancient streets of Edo-era Japan, just as if you were in a movie? Visitors to the park can also enjoy eating at traditional food stalls, as well as purchase period-authentic souvenirs.

Nikko Japan

  1. Sake Breweries: Katayama Shuzo & Watanabe Sahei Shoten

Nikko is home to two renowned sake breweries that offer brewery tours. The first, Katayama Shuzo, has been perfecting traditional sake brewing since its founding in 1880. Their sake is crafted from the pristine waters of the Daiya River, which flows from the mountains of Nikko, and premium grade-A rice, creating a sake with a delightful mild flavor and aroma. The second is Watanabe Sahei Shoten, a long-standing sake brewery that was founded back in 1842. The building where Watanabe Sahei Shoten is located is more than 100 years old, giving visitors a sense of how long they have been perfecting their craft. Here, you can purchase delicious sake made from high-quality water and rice from the foothills of Nikko. Tours of the brewery are possible for visitors where they can learn insights from the toji (master brewers) and their dedicated team about the art of sake crafting, as well as the stories behind the creation process. Your friends and family will be very happy when you bring them sake as a souvenir from Japan.

Nikko Japan

  1. Grill & Steak Myogetsubo

Myogetsubo is a restaurant specializing in grills and steaks that uses the former lodging of priests from the heyday of Nikko-san Rinnoji Temple, which has a legacy spanning over 1250 years in Nikko. The restaurant is renowned for its use of local ingredients, such as high-quality Tochigi wagyu beef steaks and various other grilled dishes. Here, you will be able to fully savor the flavor of the carefully selected ingredients in each dish. Myogetsubo is a perfect place to visit for either lunch or dinner.

Nikko Japan

  1. Nikko Takai-ya

Established in 1805, Nikko Takai-ya is a Japanese restaurant with over two centuries of history that requires reservations to visit. The restaurant owner's ancestors, who moved to Nikko during the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, originally opened the restaurant as a soba eatery called Kuriyama Soba Takai-ya. Moreover, the traditional building used for the current restaurant boasts significant historical value, with its interior and captivating garden being the main highlights. Indulging in authentic Japanese cuisine at this historic restaurant promises a truly rewarding experience. We invite you to visit and experience it firsthand.

Nikko Japan

  1. Nikko Kanaya Hotel

Established in 1873, the Nikko Kanaya Hotel is the oldest existing resort hotel in Japan. The hotel is registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property, and over the centuries many famous people have stayed there, including Dr. James Hepburn, who had a tremendous influence on Japan's modernization, Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, and former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. While the hotel's exterior has a Western-style look to it, once you step inside, the interior is decorated in a manner reminiscent of the nearby Nikko Toshogu Shrine. With so much rich history contained within the walls of the Nikko Kanaya Hotel, it truly is a special experience to stay there.

Nikko Japan

  1. Kinugawa Onsen: Kinugawa Onsen Hotel & Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel

With easy access to Nikko’s main attractions, Kinugawa Onsen is an ideal destination from which to go sightseeing in Nikko while enjoying the area’s wonderful hot springs.

Kinugawa Onsen Hotel is a long-established “onsen ryokan,” nestled along the valley of the Kinugawa River. The natural hot springs and delicious Japanese cuisine of Kinugawa Onsen Hotel are the perfect recipe to rejuvenate your mind and body. The hotel also features a buffet restaurant, a private restaurant where you can enjoy kaiseki meals, a private hot spring, and a store where you can purchase souvenirs and more.

Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel is a luxury resort hotel that seamlessly blends Japanese traditions with a modern Western approach. Each guest room boasts a riverfront view, with the terrace offering a spectacular view of the Kinugawa River flowing by. The ryokan features a restaurant serving Kanaya-style kaiseki and a teppan kaiseki restaurant. Both offer traditional Japanese cuisine interwoven with Western flavors.

Since Kinugawa Onsen is only about a two-hour journey from Tokyo, it is the perfect addition to any travel itinerary to Japan looking to enjoy an authentic Japanese hot spring experience.

KANAYA HOTEL

Please contact the U.S. Representative of Tochigi Prefecture for more information on making Tochigi your next travel destination.

Tochigi Prefecture

 

Information

Tochigi’s Website & SNS

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