Nikkō

Nikkō (Japanese: 日光市) is a town in Tochigi Prefecture, about 140 km north of Tokyo. It has a history that goes back 1,200 years, and is today a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists to Japan. Nikkō is a city with a history going back 1,200 years. Many of its heritage buildings are today recognized as World Heritage Sites. Unlike temples elsewhere in Japan, which are known for being minimalist, those in Nikkō are often gaudily ornate, reflecting early Chinese influence.

The name Nikkō means "sunlight" in Japanese. It is where the mausoleum of the famous shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu is located. Nikkō is also famous for its many onsens (hot springs) as well as waterfalls and scenic trails.

Sutra Library at Toshogu, Nikkō, Japan

Planning your trip to Nikkō

The most practical way to reach Nikkō is to take the train from Tokyo. The Tobu Nikkō Line links Nikkō to Tokyo's Tobu-Asakusa station. A morning service called Kegon departs Asakusa at 7:30 am in the morning and takes about 2 hours to reach Nikkō. You can buy the All Nikkō Pass (¥4400 for 4 days), the World Heritage Pass (¥3600 for 2 days) or the Kinugawa Themepark Pass (¥4000 for 2 days) which allows you a ride from Asakusa as well as other rides in Nikkō.

The All Nikkō Pass allows unlimited bus and train rides in the Nikkō and Kinugawa areas plus discount for entrance to nearby attractions, but not the entry to the shrines.

The World Heritage Pass covers the round trip to Nikkō and Kinugawa and includes entrance fees to the shrines. It also allows you to get discount for entering the Kinugawa Theme Park.

The Kinugawa Themepark Pass covers the round trip fare plus bus pass and admission to Tobu World Square.

Planning your travel within Nikkō

The Nikkō railway station is about 2 km from the shrines of Nikkō. You can get there by taking the Tobu Bus - alternatively you can walk.

World Heritage Site

Futara-san Shrine, Toshogu Shrine and Rinnoji Temple are inscribe as a World Heritage Site under the title of Shrines and Temples of Nikkō.

Rinnoji Taiyuin, Nikkō


Koka-mon Gate at Taiyuin, Rinnoji, Nikkō


Fujin at Taiyuin Reibyo, Nikkō

Places of Interest in Nikkō

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Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.