Nikko Day Trip

Nikko Day Trip

Having picked you up at your hotel, we'll make our way to the Asakusa station, where we'll take the train to get to Nikko, a city found 130 km away from Tokyo.

Once we arrive we'll dive straight into the "Sannai" area, where you can find plenty of temples and sanctuaries constructed completely in harmony with the natural world which surrounds them.

The tour then continues with a visit to the Toshogu temple, Nikko's star attraction, and one of the most famous temples in all Japan. This Shinto Buddhist place of worship takes its name from its dedication to Tokugawa Ieyasu the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate which ruled from 1603 to 1867. It's known as one of the most lavishly decorated temples in all Japan, containing the tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a five storey pagoda, and image such as "The Crying Dragon" and "The Sleeping Cat".

Perhaps the most surprising are the "Three Monkeys" - monkeys embodying what has come to mean "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" - and on the tour you'll discover how, although the phrase itself has a long association with Buddhist and Confucianist thought, it was in fact in this temple where it came to be associated with monkeys!

We'll then tour the beautiful natural surroundings, touring the Taiyuin temple, where the man responsible for the construction of the Toshogu temple is found. And a day trip to Nikko wouldn't be complete without a trip to its most famous bridge, the Shinkyo Bridge (Sacred Bridge), whose red colour contrasts with the green vegetation around it.

Then you'll have free time to eat lunch, and buy souvenirs before we begin the return journey.

The Nikko day trip ends back in Tokyo at around 4:50 pm.

Important Information

• Although it is possible to take this tour on any day of the week, be aware that on the weekend local tourism makes the site very busy.
• Please bring cash in yen, to pay any additional costs.

Transport

If you have the Japan Rail Pass, you'll only have to pay the ticket for the guide, which is 6,000 yen in total. If you do not have the JR pass we'll travel in a normal train, which is 6,000 yen per person and the guide travels for free.

Covid-19 Measures

All of our providers comply with local legislation and applicable health recommendations regarding protective material and safety to help avoid the spread of Covid-19.