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Nikko Private Day Tour - English Guide - Onsen & UNESCO Shrine

By Elie
Free cancellation available
Price is $571 per traveler* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple travelers
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 10h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages
Overview

Embark on a private day trip to Nikko with hotel pickup from Tokyo in a luxury, air-conditioned van.

Watch the scenery shift from city streets to tranquil countryside before arriving at the UNESCO-listed Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the lavish mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Admire its detailed carvings, then pause at the iconic vermilion Shinkyo Bridge, arching over the Daiya River.

Continue along the winding Iroha Slope, famous for its 48 hairpin turns, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Kegon Falls, one of Japan’s three most celebrated waterfalls, and take the Akechidaira Ropeway for sweeping views of Lake Chuzenji and the surrounding peaks.

End your day with time by the lake or the option to relax in a natural Onsen.

Activity location

  • Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Check availability

Private Van - 1 to 9 Persons
  • Activity duration is 10 hours10h
    10h
  • English

Toyota Hiace - 9 Persons: Vehicle for up to 9 persons + luggage. Spacious and comfortable for big groups.
Pickup included

Starting time: 8:30am
Price details
$837.72 x 1 Traveler$837.72
Total
Price is $837.72
Until Tue, Nov 4
Private Van - 1 to 5 Persons
  • Activity duration is 10 hours10h
    10h
  • English

Toyota Alphard - 5 Persons
Pickup included

Starting time: 8:30am
Price details
$571.47 x 1 Traveler$571.47
Total
Price is $571.47
Until Tue, Nov 4
Premium Car - 1 to 4 Persons
  • Activity duration is 10 hours10h
    10h
  • English

Any car (on availability): BMW, Mercedes, GTR, Porsche, etc … You choose, we find. An additional fee will be charged depending on the car.
Pickup included

Starting time: 8:30am
Price details
$837.72 x 1 Traveler$837.72
Total
Price is $837.72
Until Tue, Nov 4
Convertible - MX5 - 1 Person
  • Activity duration is 10 hours10h
    10h
  • English

Mazda MX5 - convertible
Pickup included

Starting time: 8:30am
Price details
$681.86 x 1 Traveler$681.86
Total
Price is $681.86
Until Tue, Nov 4

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Private transportation with Air-conditioned vehicle
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Highway toll tax & Gaz
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Parking Fees
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Pick Up and Drop off to Hotel
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Ticket to the Hot-Spring (onsen) 1500¥/person
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Ticket to the Nikko Shrine 1300¥/person
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Breakfast
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Dinner
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Lunch
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Ticket to the Kegon Falls 600¥/person
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Ticket to the Akechidaira Ropeway 600¥/person

Know before you book

  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Nikko Tosho-gu
  • 1h
  • Admission ticket not included
A masterpiece of Japanese craftsmanship, Nikkō Tōshōgū is the lavish shrine complex dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years. Unlike most shrines in Japan known for their simplicity, Tōshōgū dazzles with intricate wood carvings, brilliant gold leaf, and vivid colors, all set in the quiet cedar forests of Nikkō. As you explore, you’ll encounter iconic details such as the famous “See, Speak, and Hear No Evil” monkeys, the Sleeping Cat symbolizing peace, and the towering Yomeimon Gate, often called the Gate of the Sun. Each building and carving tells a story of power, artistry, and spirituality, making Tōshōgū not just a shrine but an open-air museum of Edo-period culture. Nestled in a serene natural setting, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a place where history, art, and spirituality blend into one unforgettable experience.
Shinkyo Bridge
  • 30m
The Shinkyo Bridge, with its vivid vermilion arches stretching gracefully over the Daiya River, is one of Japan’s most picturesque and sacred bridges. Traditionally reserved for imperial envoys and high-ranking priests, it marks the entrance to Nikkō’s sacred mountains and has long been seen as a gateway between the human and spiritual worlds. Surrounded by forested hillsides and flowing waters, the bridge is especially breathtaking in autumn when framed by fiery red and golden leaves.
Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Tamozawa Imperial Villa (田母沢御用邸, Tamozawa Goyōtei) blends traditional Edo and early modern Meiji Period architecture throughout its 106 rooms. The villa was erected in Nikko in 1899, using parts of a residence that originally stood in Tokyo. Before being moved to Nikko, the building served initially as the Tokyo residence of a branch of the Tokugawa family and was later temporarily used as the Imperial Palace. In Nikko, it was enlarged into a summer residence and retreat for the Imperial Family, but suffered neglect after World War II. In the year 2000, the villa was opened to the public after extensive renovation works.
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
  • 30m
Kanmangafuchi Abyss was formed by an eruption of nearby Mount Nantai. This gorge near central Nikko is only a few hundred meters long and can be enjoyed from a pleasant riverside walking trail. Kanmangafuchi is also known for its row of about 70 stone statues of Jizo, a Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased. This particular group of Jizo statues is alternately called "Bake Jizo" (Ghost Jizo), "Narabi Jizo" (Jizo in a line) or "Hyaku Jizo" (100 Jizo). The statues look out over the river and across to the Nikko Botanical Garden, but the botanical garden cannot be entered from the abyss.
Irohazaka Route
  • 30m
The Irohazaka Route is a spectacular mountain road of sharp curves winding through the forests of Nikkō. Once a sacred pilgrimage path, it now offers breathtaking views of the valley below and the surrounding peaks, especially stunning in autumn when the slopes are ablaze with color. The road’s name comes from the 48 traditional hiragana letters, once matched to each curve, making the journey itself part of the cultural heritage of Nikkō.
Akechidaira Observation Area
  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Akechidaira Observation Area offers one of the most breathtaking panoramas in Nikkō. Reached by a short ropeway ride, the viewpoint opens to sweeping vistas of Lake Chūzenji, the winding Irohazaka Road, and the majestic Kegon Falls cascading into the valley below. It is a place where the beauty of Nikkō unfolds at once, especially vivid in autumn when the mountains are painted in brilliant reds and golds.
Lake Chuzenji
  • 1h
  • Admission ticket not included
◦ Enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch at a local restaurant, savoring regional specialties.
Kegon Falls
  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Kegon Falls is the most celebrated of Nikkō’s waterfalls, a dramatic 97-meter drop where the waters of Lake Chūzenji plunge into a misty gorge below. Ranked among Japan’s three most beautiful waterfalls, it offers both power and elegance, framed by rugged cliffs and seasonal colors that change the atmosphere with each visit. An elevator takes you down to the base for a closer view, where the roar of the cascade and the cool spray create an unforgettable encounter with nature’s grandeur.
Ryuzu Waterfall
  • 30m
Nestled in the tranquil forests of Nikko, Ryuzu Cascades is a place where water and time weave poetry together. The name means Dragon’s Head, a reference to the twin streams that tumble side by side before merging into one, resembling the mane of a dragon plunging into the valley. The falls extend for nearly 210 meters, a long and gentle descent rather than a single dramatic drop, creating a rhythm of white water against dark volcanic rock.
Yashio no Yu
  • 2h
  • Admission ticket not included
◦ Choose to: ▪ Stroll along the shores of Lake Chuzenji, enjoying the serene environment. ▪ Optional: Visit a local onsen near the lake for a relaxing soak in natural hot springs. Experience the therapeutic benefits of mineral-rich waters.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

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