• Nikko Tosho-gu - Discover why the saying “Don’t say ‘magnificent’ until you’ve seen Nikko” holds true by visiting the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, along with nearby shrines and temples. This renowned shrine, part of “the Shrines and Temples of Nikko,” a leading world heritage site in Japan, is where the great Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, who initiated the prosperous Edo Period, is enshrined. The current shrine complex was mostly rebuilt in the 17th century and includes 55 buildings, featuring 8 national treasures and 34 listed buildings. Highlights include exquisite carvings, lacquered and vibrantly colored, showcasing craftsmanship from across the country. Be sure to see the “Sleeping Cat,” a symbol of peace, and the “Three Monkeys” with their “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” poses!
• Kegon Falls - Kegon Waterfall is the most famous among Nikko’s 48 waterfalls. Water from Lake Chuzenji plunges 97 meters straight down to the rocks below, creating a dynamic and artistic natural spectacle. A special lift takes visitors to the basin, where the force and roar of the water can be experienced up close! The waterfall is impressive in any season, but it is particularly stunning when surrounded by fresh green leaves in May, house martins in June, or the “12 falls”—small streams of the frozen waterfall clad in blue ice—during January and February.
• Lake Chuzenji - Lake Chuzenji is Tochigi’s largest lake, surrounded by 25 kilometers of breathtaking nature. The area was a popular summer resort for foreigners from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, and the villas of the French and Belgian embassies can still be found here. Visitors can enjoy the lake’s seasonal charms, with walking trails around the water’s edge and an excursion boat available. The views from the lake are spectacular, especially during cherry blossom or azalea blooms, or when the autumn leaves are turning. The “Koyo-meguri” tour, which showcases autumn leaves reflecting on the lake, is highly recommended.
• Irohazaka Route - The Iroha Slope consists of a pair of winding roads connecting the lower elevations near Nikko with the higher elevations of the mountainous region. Featured in the popular anime Initial D, it comprises 48 hairpin turns across the different upslope and downslope roads, making it the best place to view autumn leaves. “Iroha” refers to the first three of the 48 syllables in the old Japanese alphabet, and each turn is named after one of these syllables, giving the road its name.
• Senjogahara Field - “Senjogahara” translates to battlefield, referring to a mythical battle where the gods of Mount Nantai and Mount Akagi fought to claim the neighboring lakes. Taking the forms of a serpent and centipede, they battled and intertwined, creating this marshland. Now, the battlefield is a competition of charms, as various plants and fauna vie to enchant visitors.
• Taiyu-in Temple Hall - Taiyuin (大猷院, Taiyūin) is the mausoleum of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, the grandson of Ieyasu. Iemitsu’s lavish mausoleum complex resembles the nearby Toshogu Shrine in layout and architecture, but it was intentionally built somewhat more modestly out of Iemitsu’s deep respect for his grandfather. Taiyuin is Iemitsu’s posthumous name.
• Rinno-ji Temple - Rinnoji (輪王寺, Rinnōji) is Nikko’s most significant temple, founded by Shodo Shonin, the Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism to Nikko in the 8th century. The temple’s main building, the Sanbutsudo, houses large, gold-lacquered wooden statues of Amida, Senju-Kannon (“Kannon with a thousand arms”), and Bato-Kannon (“Kannon with a horse head”). These three deities are considered Buddhist manifestations of Nikko’s three mountain deities, enshrined at Futarasan Shrine. A decade-long renovation of the Sanbutsudo was completed in spring 2019.
• Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park - Tamozawa Imperial Villa (田母沢御用邸, Tamozawa Goyōtei) combines traditional Edo and early modern Meiji Period architecture across its 106 rooms. The villa was constructed in Nikko in 1899, using parts of a residence originally located in Tokyo. Before being moved to Nikko, the building served as the Tokyo residence of a Tokugawa family branch and was later temporarily used as the Imperial Palace. In Nikko, it was expanded into a summer residence and retreat for the Imperial Family but fell into neglect after World War II. In 2000, the villa was opened to the public following extensive renovations.
• Kanmangafuchi Abyss - Kanmangafuchi Abyss (憾満ヶ淵) was formed by an eruption of nearby Mount Nantai. This gorge, near central Nikko, is only a few hundred meters long and can be enjoyed from a pleasant riverside walking trail. Kanmangafuchi is also known for its row of about 70 stone statues of Jizo, a Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased. This group of Jizo statues is alternately called “Bake Jizo” (Ghost Jizo), “Narabi Jizo” (Jizo in a line), or “Hyaku Jizo” (100 Jizo). The statues overlook the river and the Nikko Botanical Garden, although the garden cannot be accessed from the abyss.
• Nikko Futarasan Shrine - Futarasan Shrine (二荒山神社, Futarasan Jinja) is located next to Toshogu in central Nikko. Older than its more lavish neighbor, Futarasan Shrine was founded in 782 by Shodo Shonin, the Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism to Nikko and also founded the nearby Rinnoji Temple. Futarasan Shrine is dedicated to the deities of Nikko’s three most sacred mountains: Mount Nantai, Mount Nyoho, and Mount Taro. Futarasan is an alternate name for Mount Nantai, the most prominent of the three mountains. The shrine grounds are mostly free to enter, except for a small paid area to the left of the offering hall (haiden). This area features a small forested garden with additional halls, a spring, old sacred trees, and closer views of the main hall (honden) behind the offering hall. The Shinkyo Bridge, located one kilometer from the shrine grounds, also belongs to Futarasan Shrine.
• Nikko Botanical Garden - Nikko Botanical Garden (日光植物園, Nikko Shokubutsuen) is owned and maintained by the prestigious University of Tokyo. It is a branch of the university’s main research garden, Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo. The garden was opened in 1902 to collect and study alpine plants. It is spacious and quiet, with a substantial network of paths for pleasant walks and viewing various labeled trees, plants, and shrubs. The garden also offers a view into the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, although there is no direct connection between the garden and the abyss.
• Shinkyo Bridge - The Shinkyo Bridge (神橋, Shinkyō, “sacred bridge”) stands at the entrance to Nikko’s shrines and temples and technically belongs to Futarasan Shrine. The bridge is ranked as one of Japan’s three finest bridges, alongside Iwakuni’s Kintaikyo and Saruhashi in Yamanashi Prefecture. The current Shinkyo was constructed in 1636, but a bridge has marked the same spot for much longer, although its exact origins are unclear. Until 1973, Shinkyo was off-limits to the general public. It underwent extensive renovations in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and visitors can now walk across the bridge and back for an entrance fee.
• Kirifuri Waterfall - Kirifuri Waterfall (霧降の滝, Kirifuri no taki) is an impressive 75-meter-high, two-tiered waterfall located below the Kirifuri Highlands, a few kilometers northeast of Nikko’s temples and shrines. The elegant falls cascading down the mountain provide a beautiful contrast to the surrounding foliage, which is lush and green in spring and summer and displays fiery shades of red, orange, and gold in autumn. The name Kirifuri means “falling mist,” after the fine mist created when the water crashes against the rocks at the bottom of the lower falls. The view may occasionally be obscured when mist or fog covers the valley. It used to be possible to hike down to the base of the waterfalls, but the trail partially collapsed several years ago and has been closed since.
• Kanaya Hotel History House - The Kanaya Hotel History House (金谷ホテル歴史館, Kanya Hotel Rekishikan) is a historical building in Nikko that served as the predecessor of the celebrated Kanaya Hotel. The house is open for public exploration and provides a glimpse into the Nikko of centuries past. It stands next to a bakery that also sells admission tickets for the house. After Japan’s era of isolation ended, Nikko became a popular summer resort among foreign diplomats and business people. The Kanaya Hotel has been one of the premier hotels in the area for accommodating such guests and today stands as the oldest Western-style hotel in Japan. While the hotel is now located one kilometer down the road on a hill above the Shinkyo Bridge, its history began at the Kanaya Hotel History House.
• Akechidaira Observation Area - Akechidaira Plateau is located near the top of Irohazaka Slope and offers sweeping views over a winding road and a dramatic mountain backdrop. Visitors can take the ropeway up to the observation platform for even more panoramic views, including Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. Alternatively, a hiking trail runs from the lake to the observation platform via Akechidaira Plateau.

• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Nikko
• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private transportation
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

This trip offers incredible value with a government-licensed, experienced multilingual tour guide, providing a wonderful and efficient way to discover Nikko!

Nikko is a must-visit destination during any stay in Japan for numerous reasons. A private guide will ensure a full-day tour of this historic and picturesque town is enjoyed to the fullest.

The guide will begin the day with a morning pickup at Nikko Station (Tobu or JR). Nikko, one of Japan’s most breathtaking nature reserves, is located on the exceptionally scenic—and challenging to access independently—Romantic Road.

Please share any special requests for the day, and the itinerary will be customized in advance!

Note1: Choose your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create a personalized itinerary.
Note2: If traveling from Tokyo to Nikko, be aware that the journey takes over two hours.

• This is a walking tour. Pick up is on foot.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.