Visiting Nikko is like a trip back in time. From the beautiful temples and shrines to the pristine lakes and mountain scenery, it has the perfect blend of grand and quaint.
Start your adventure by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nikko Central. Explore the complex of 103 Shinto and Buddhist religious buildings that earned this area a status as a World Heritage Centre.
1. Shinkyo Bridge
The Shinkyo Bridge is one of the most beautiful and famous bridges in Japan. It is a vermilion bridge and one of the most iconic sights in Nikko. It is part of the Shrines and Temples of Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally the bridge was only open for military leaders and imperial messengers, but now it is open to the public and you can walk across the bridge for an admission fee of 300 yen.
The best time to visit the bridge is in autumn when it is surrounded by colorful foliage. The bridge is also sometimes illuminated at night.
The bridge is located just before the entrance to the main shrine area of Nikko and is a popular spot for pictures. It is often very crowded, so be sure to arrive early to get a good photo without too many people in it!
2. Kegon Falls
Kegon Falls () is the most famous waterfall in Nikko and is often ranked high among the top three “most beautiful” waterfalls in Japan. It is the “exit” waterfall for Lake Chuzenji and a majestic sight to behold with 12 smaller waterfalls forming a layered effect around its basin. It was named by the monk Shodo Shonin after a sutra called the “Kegon” Sutra, one of the Tendai Buddhist’s most important scriptures.
It is one of the best places to visit in Nikko for nature lovers, especially in fall when the surrounding trees turn into a magical crimson color. Visitors can enjoy this magnificent waterfall from a free observation deck and also via an elevator at the base of the falls for a head-on view for 550 yen. Aside from the falls, the area is filled with scenic natural attractions such as the Lake Chuzenji and Ryuzu Falls – all of which are found within Nikko National Park.
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3. Toshogu Shrine
The Toshogu Shrine is one of the highlights in Nikko and a big reason that it holds the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. This elaborate complex of 55 buildings is built around the mausoleum of Japan’s first shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is both Shinto and Buddhist and the decorations are simply stunning. There are a lot of great carvings but also some quirkier ones including a sleeping cat and the famous three monkeys in their “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” poses.
The shrine complex is a good place to walk, take pictures and to explore. But it is probably the most impressive during the fall when the temples and grounds are colored by the beautiful autumn colors. It is also a good spot to see the famous komainu (a mythological creature that guards the shrine). Another great place in the area is Kirifuri Waterfall, which is only about 10 minutes by car from the shrine and temple complex.
4. Futarasan Shrine
Futarasan Shrine is dedicated to the deities of Okuninushi, Ajisukitakahikone, and Tagorihime – gods of nation-building, farming, business, medicine, and sea and mountain safety. It doesn’t have the opulence of its neighbours but it has an overwhelming power that comes from the sacred nature of the area and the ancient worship of these mountains. The shrine’s cedar trees are particularly impressive. There are two that share one root and stand up against each other and have been called the husband-and-wife cedars and three that share a single root and are positioned side-by-side as family cedars.
The shrine is part of the Rinno-ji, Toshogu, and Futarasan UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Lake Chuzenji. It was originally established in 782 by Shodo Shonin, the Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism to Nikko and founded the adjacent Rinnoji Temple. It has also been a centre for ascetic practice since the 10th century.
5. Rinno-ji Temple
Located in the Oku-Nikko area and just a short distance from both Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji, Rinno-ji is one of Nikko’s most important temple buildings which earned it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list alongside Toshogu and Futarasan Shrine. Although the temple doesn’t exude the luxury of its 2 neighbouring shrines, its history is unbroken and it has a special atmosphere.
Its main hall, Sanbutsudo Hall is a visual marvel and features three gilded Buddha statues standing at 8 meters tall. The Buddhas represent the kami of Mount Nyoho, Mount Taro and Mt Nantai – Nikko’s three sacred mountains.
Don’t miss a chance to visit its Shoyo-en Garden, an impressive Japanese meditation garden behind Homotsu-den Hall. It is a great place to relax after exploring the complex. Combined tickets are available for both the temple and Taiyuin Mausoleum which is just 10 minutes away by foot.
6. Toshogu Mausoleum
The grand Toshogu Shrine is one of the main highlights that gave Nikko its claim as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It honors Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa dynasty that ruled Japan for 250 years, and it is one of the most lavish shrines in all of the country.
His grandson later oversaw a massive renovation of the shrine, hiring first-grade artists to decorate each structure with carvings and paintings. The most stunning of these is the Yomeimon Gate, also known as “Gate of the Setting Sun”, which features over 500 different wooden sculptures that portray dragons, wise men, and traditional anecdotes.
Toshogu is around two hours north of Tokyo, and can be reached easily by train (the easiest route is taking the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station then switching to the JR Nikko Line). Be sure to make time for it on your visit to the area!
