1 Day Tour Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park
Description
Please note that this tour does not use a private vehicle and uses public transport. This tour involves several hours of walking in the outdoors. If you want to see some of Japan’s most beautiful and culturally significant temples, shrines, traditional architecture and natural landmarks, then this tour is for you. With Nikko being two hours from Tokyo, it is the perfect day trip outside of the capital! Granted World Heritage status in 1999, Nikko is considered the heritage hub in Japan due to its many temples and shrines rich in history with many an interesting tale to tell! It is also known for its national park nestled among the lush mountainous landscape sure to impress you and leave you feeling refreshed on your return to the bustling metropolis of Tokyo! Marvel at the gold gilded shrines, the intricate wood carvings and the nature that surrounds you as you make your way through Nikko’s World Heritage site with your tour guide!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our first destination will be a small gorge surrounded by lush greenery and trees off the beaten path in Nikko. We will walk alongside the crystal clear river as your tour guide tells you all about the gorge’s famous inhabitants, the Bake Jizo statues! (Ghost Jizo). It is said there are 70 Jizo statues lining the path of the gorge, but legend says that the number changes each time you count them! So make sure to test this for yourself! Keep your eyes peeled as you will also spot some Sanskrit characters carved into the cliff upstream! There is even a small waterfall here to enjoy.
Our next stop is an historic and traditional Japanese villa where you can enjoy the traditional architecture and garden. Enjoy stepping back in time as you walk around the Edo and Meiji period building which has been home to many historically important people. From the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Imperial Family, your guide will tell you all about its former residents. Look out for the beautifully painted and decorated cedar wooden doors around the villa!
Located at the start of the World Heritage site and National Park in Nikko, this bridge is ranked one of the top three scenic bridges in all of Japan! Constructed in 1636, this bridge has lived to see many people cross its path. Enjoy the scenic views and of course take some wonderful photos!
The Heritage Site is home to some of the most elaborate and gorgeous structures in all of Japan adorned in gold leaf, vibrant colours and wood carvings, so make sure to take plenty of pictures! For our first destination we will visit Taiyuin Temple, the temple where the third Tokugawa Shogunate ’Tokugawa Iemitsu’ is enshrined and buried. The temple complex is adorned with elaborate decoration and amazing Buddhist statues. Inside the main hall, you can see the Samurai armour that Tokugawa Iemitsu once wore.
Our next destination will be the star of the show in our opinion, Toshogu Shrine! Some of the most notable sites here will be the lavish Nikko Toshogu shrine where Japan’s most famous and powerful Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined. You will also see the wood carvings of the famous ’Nemuri-Neko’ (sleeping cat) and the ’Three Wise Monkeys’, and you will visit the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu. We will also be visiting the museum which houses artefacts from the time of Tokugawa Ieyasu, including his armour, swords and personal items.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining amount of time is allocated to transport.
Reviews(6)
Amazing tour of the Nikko Heritage Park! Jeff and Karina were amazing tour guides who went above and beyond and were incredibly knowledgeable about the area and sights. They gave great advise on other parts of my itinerary as well! Nikko is definitely worth going to - it's a very scenic and cultural spot!
This was a very interesting and memorable experience, giving insight into Japanese history and culture. Our guide Jeff did an excellent job of leading us round the National Park to the many points of interest. It took the best part of a day, with a 1 hour 40 mins train journey from Tokyo included.
Jeff accommodated the tour with the most amount of time for what we had and did perfectly, I was walking slow and there was no complains as Jeff helped any way for how we can help or change anything to accommodate our route and change anything if needed. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to see Nikko this was one of the best tours I had in Japan after visiting cities from Nagasaki between Tokyo!
Absolutely fantastic day trip. This is my 5th tour with Snow Monkey Resorts in a span of 2 years, and this one was as amazing as the previous ones. Beth and Jeff were such amazing tour guides. Everything was well planned out and taken care of - tickets, train-fare everything. Nothing was rushed. The Abyss was a hidden gem, with stunning views. The shrines and temples were so intricate. It was a long and jam packed day with lots of great memories and photos. Thank you so much for yet another unforgettable experience!
My guide Beth was so welcoming, knowledgeable fun and kind! Lunch was delicious and it was just the right amount of walking. I cannot say enough about how impressed I was by Beth's passion for this beautiful place. Our day in Nico will shine in my memory so beautifully for years to come.
Dear Erin, Thank you for your glowing review! It's fantastic to know that your day in Nikko was a memorable one. Beth will be so thrilled to see your kind comments - we are grateful to have such a passionate and knowledgeable guide on our team. We hope to see you again! Snow Monkey Resorts
The trip was perfectly balanced. We started in a less touristic area where we were able to see the “baby statues” and an imperial villa, while we finished with the beautiful and unique Nikko’s National Park. We were lucky and we did the tour alone with our guide Beth ( native speaker) who was able to give us a private tour. It was wonderful!
Dear Elena, Thank you so much for booking multiple tours with us and for your positive ratings! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour from the less touristic areas to the well-known Nikko National Park. Your kind words have been passed on to Beth. We look forward to seeing you again! Snow Monkey Resorts
