Nikko Private Day Trip

Nikko Private 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 Shinto Shrine, Nikko's star attraction, and one of the most famous temples in all of 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 of Japan, containing the tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a five-story pagoda, and images 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 Shinto Shrine 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 color 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's 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.