Nikko History & Nature Discovery | Private Licensed Guide &Driver
Description
Explore the UNESCO-listed temples and shrines on our private car tour. The tour will start from the Shinkyo Bridge connecting the human world to the spiritual world where Mt. Nantai is worshipped as one of the sacred mountains of Japan. Discover the culture and history of the samurai by exploring Toshogu Shrine, the most gorgeous architecture in eastern Japan which was built in the early 17 century as the mausoleum of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, known as the father of EDO for 265 years until 1867. In the afternoon, you can either explore more of Nikko's nature such as using the Akechidaira ropeway, see the Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji, visiting Ashikaga Flower Park, or have a fun time at the Edo Wonderland. Your journey is guided by nationally certified guide and skilled driver, passionate about sharing their love for Japan’s culture, history, and beautiful nature. Enjoy our tailored tour, designed to showcase both the iconic sights and hidden gems, ensuring an unforgettable day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu Shogun, the founder of Tokyo (Edo) the most gorgeous architecture in Japan. (60 to 90mn)
Back in the Edo period in the 18th century. Disguise yourself in samurai, ronin, feudal lord, or wear a kimono to be the princess of the feudal period, etc., enjoy the show, and become part of the scene. (120 to 150mn) Ninja Show is popular. *Closed every Wednesday. Please check their official calendar for details.
Beautiful historical bridge. (10mn)
The main gate of Tosho-gu, also known as Higurashi no mon, so magnificent that you can spend one whole day just seeing this gate.
The Mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu the grandson of Ieyasu is also part of the world heritage. (30mn to 60mn)
The famous and mysterious Jizo statues (Bodhisattva) are said that you will not get the same number when you count them the second time. (20 to 30mn)
The ancient residence of the Tokugawa family moved and replaced to become the villa of the Taisho Emperor. (45 to 60mn)
The windy road from Tosho-gu to Lake Chuzenjiko, famous for maples in fall.
Beautiful scenery of Nikko and Lake Chuzenji from the observatory. (30mn to 60mn)
One of the 3 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan.
Also taking part of the world heritage of UNESCO with Tosho-gu Shrine.
Lake Chuzenji
Nikko National Park
Japanese Wisteria flower is popular in spring. you can enjoy different flowers throughout the season and light up in during the Christmas season. (60 to 90mn)
Enjoy all you can eat of Japanese sweet strawberries. You can taste a maximum of 11 different varieties of Tochigi prefecture local varieties. *Late Dec to May
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The itinerary on the What to Expect is a list, please select around 4 to 6 sites.
- You can ask our guide for advice and suggestions after booking.
- Please advise for any specific dietary requirements at the time of booking, vegetarian option is available.
- The tour will not be cancelled or refunded even if some spots are not fully visible due to weather conditions. The activity schedule is subject to change/cancellation due to weather or traffic conditions.
- The price remains the same with or without the vehicle.
Reviews(116)
Taiji san was really professional and passionate with his work and answered all the questions I had during the trip. I booked a solo 11-hour trip and never did I ever feel awkward during the trip. He was good at explaining the historical facts and elaborated information about the places we visited. We were able to visit more places than originally planned and he walked me through everything we saw at the sights. Very fun and informative trip. I have never been to Nikko, but now I feel like I have learned so much about this place in just one day. Again, many thanks to my guide and drive!
Dear Wenqi Thank you for such a kind review. As we started early and were fortunate with the traffic, we did more visits than the original schedule. After checking the weather, we started visiting the Lake Chuzenji area, which turned out to be a good circuit not just weather-wise but also for avoiding the crowds. We did the 1. Lake Chuzenji view, 2.Chuzenji Temple, 3. Futarasan Shrine (No2.), 4. Kegon Falls, 5.Lunch, 6.Shinkyo Bridge, 7. Toshogu Shrine, 8. Rinnoji temple, 9.Short visit to Futarasan Shrine (No.1) and a bonus shopping time at Kanaya Bakery, the renowned Kanaya hotel group's bakery. So on this day, I ended up explaining from the early beliefs of the Kami, Monk Shodo Shoin who created the origin of the monastery and pilgrimage of Mt. Nantai, the medieval period with the Tokugawa shogun family up to the 20th century when the foreign people started to visit, later spending the summer to enjoy the beautiful nature of Nikko. It was truly a memorable day for me too, as the allotted time is usually not enough to explain Nikko's history in such depth. Let me also add that your love and interest in Japanese culture, and your Chinese background in understanding the characters, indeed helped me a lot. All the best, and I hope to see you again this year. Taiji
Where to begin? Our guide and driver, Mazda, was such a pleasure to work with prior to our trip to Nikko. He helped plan a wonderful mix of culture and nature. When the weather turned on us at Kegon falls he quickly adapted and brought us to Yutaki waterfall that was stunning! I honestly can’t say enough about our day. From Edo Wonderland, the Nikko Toshogu shrine, Rinnoji temple, Shinkyo bridge, and an unexpected treat of Kanmangafuchi Abyss - very full yet manageable day. A really amazing day and Mazda was incredible throughout!! I would highly recommend!
Thank you once again for joining our Nikko National Park tour. One of the great advantages of a private tour is that you can travel without waiting. Additionally, we can flexibly adjust the itinerary based on the weather and other conditions, allowing you to make the most of your tour time! By immersing yourself in the world of the Edo period and enjoying the great outdoors of Nikko National Park, we hope you were able to experience Japan’s history and culture. We know the packed schedule may have left you a bit tired, but we hope you enjoyed the highlights of Nikko National Park. We offer a variety of private tours, and we look forward to serving you again in the near future! Mazda
The tour was excellent, they explained us previous the activities and gave us the chance to modify if we wish to. Both tour and driver gave us the best treatment and recommendations all the time. Without a doubt I’ll be booking this tour on my way back to Japan.
Thank you for joining our tour and leaving heartwarming review. Lake Chuzenji was shrouded in fog, but at Ryuzu Falls, we were able to experience the dynamic waterfall up close, and the fresh greenery was beautiful. The restaurant had a charming atmosphere, utilizing an old building, and the Tochigi beef was delicious. I was very happy that you all enjoyed yourselves. Yoshiko
We had a wonderful time with a wonderful, knowledgeable guide. Nikko is a place everyone should visit.
Did you enjoy Japan to your heart’s content? Were you able to see the beautiful cherry blossoms? Even beyond spring, Japan has so much to offer in every season. I hope you’ll come back again—whether to enjoy the fresh greenery of summer, the stunning foliage of autumn, or the peaceful beauty of winter snow. I’m sure you’ll be busy again back in the United States, so please take good care of yourself. Tadashi
They loved the excursion every different places we visited the tour guide was very knowledgeable friendly
Thank you very much for your 5-star review! We really appreciate your feedback. We visited lakes, waterfalls and UNESCO HERITAGE sites on a beautiful day in Nikko. Nikko is also famed for wonderful autumn colored leaves. We hope to serve you again in the near future! Yoshimi
Our experience was all we could have hoped for and more. Our guide, Tadashi, welcomed us with personalized gifts and gave us a history lesson on our way to Nikko. He really went above and beyond to make the day special. The car was clean and the drive was beautiful. It was a long drive but the car was comfortable enough we all fell asleep on our way back to the hotel. He took us to a wonderful lunch and then snow cones (that I will never forget). Nikko was breathtaking and a highlight of our trip to Japan.
Thank you very much for your warm review. I’m very glad that you were able to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, even in the rain. I was also delighted that you found a sense of wabi-sabi within the grounds of the magnificent Nikko Toshogu Shrine, despite its gorgeous appearance. I hadn’t expected that you would try shaved ice on such a cold day, but I’m very happy that you enjoyed the incredibly fluffy kakigori in Japan. Please come back to Japan again—I look forward to seeing you again. Tadashi
This review is long overdue. This past November, I booked this tour and was assigned Hiroko as our tour guide and Toshi as our driver. Both made this an extremely memorable experience. They were friendly, patient, and professional. Both are also very knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history. We never felt rushed and they made us feel like family. Hiroko is the nicest tour guide in all of Tokyo! She listened to our preferences and made wonderful suggestions to enhance our itinerary. Her attentiveness was remarkable. She was able to anticipate our needs without explicit communication. At one point, she noticed we were freezing cold and went to buy a hot pack to help us keep warm in the cold weather. Even after the tour was done, she gave us recommendations and offered to answer any questions we had about specific locations. Highly recommend booking this tour!
Hello Analie-san, Thank you very much for your kind and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate your warm words. It was a pleasure guiding you in Nikko, and I am so happy to hear that you felt comfortable and well cared for throughout the tour. Your kindness and openness made the day very special for us. Thank you again for your recommendation. I hope the memories of Nikko stay with you, and I would be happy to assist you again if you return to Japan. Best regards, Hiroko K.
Very delightful, informed and knowledgeable guide (Mrs. Yoshimi Sakai). She began her detailed description the minute we entered the mini van. She was very pleasant and patient with the kids answering all their questions.
Thank you very much for your heartwarming review! We are so happy to hear that you all enjoyed the tour in Nikko. It was a memorable day for me. I will never forget how much your children enjoyed Lake Chuzenji and Edo Wonderland and were sad to leave. Even though it was a hot day in Tokyo, the temperature was comfortable in Nikko, nicknamed a natural refrigerator. We'd also like to show you and your family the beautiful colored autumn leaves in Nikko. We look forward to seeing you all again. Yoshimi
Our family had a great time in Edo Wonderland, and Toshogu was beautiful. Kaz was a great guide and helped us make the most of a rainy day. Dressing up in Edo Wonderland is a bit time-consuming, but worth it. We were able to watch two shows, do several activities, and eat lunch. The maze and ninja house were surprisingly difficult, but still fun.
I really am impressed the time with you all in your day in the very last chapter of your trip and appreciate much for your high evaluation. Strongly hope that limited hours in NIKKO is unforgettable memory. I really enjoyed the communication with you. Thank you from KAZ
Nikko is an amazing and magical place and our tourist guide, Shun, was amazing. He is very knowledgeable, and friendly.
Thank you so much. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour. It was a memorable great day. I hope you have a wonderful time in Japan! Shun Moriyama
