Top Things to do in Nikko
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5 Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Nikko That You Shouldn't Miss
The shrines and temples of Nikko have been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Here, you can visit the Toshogu Shrine, which dates from the 17th century and is a monument to (and the mausoleum of) Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of a shogunate that ruled Japan for 250 years. Travelers day-tripping from Tokyo generally focus on the sacred sites, but if you have extra time, explore the area’s beautiful waterfalls and lakes.
Restaurants in Nikko
1. Yudaki Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 418 reviews
Reviewed By TnTOz - Sydney, Australia
We visited here in Winter and the ice and snow made it more spectacular. We also took the short circular track to Kotaki Falls which was absolutely beautiful and easy to negotiate with just hiking boots and poles. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do the Sejogahara Moor trail from here because it was closed due to damage to the track further along.
2. Ryuokyo Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 234 reviews
Reviewed By jk-liu - Taichung, Taiwan
We took a train to get there and spent around ten minutes from Kinugawa Park station. Because a typhoon will land tomorrow, just a few tourists visited this scenery. Amazing waterfall and valley were attractive to our sight. We got around everywhere for about ninety minutes. Though many maple leaves haven’t changed color, I deeply recommend the Ryuokyo Canyon in Kinugawa.
3. Irohazaka Route
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 336 reviews
Reviewed By sohlman33 - Brookfield, United States
As a car enthusiast on this trip to Japan I convinced my wife (pretty easily) to travel up to Nikko for Irohazaka first and everything else second. We had rented an EK9 Civic Type R for a small road trip and we ended up staying at a ryokan at the top of the mountain next to Lake Chuzenji. I did this purposely to maximize the number of times we'd need to drive up and down the mountain. What an amazing road - it's an absolute work of art. Even going rather slowly you are still bound to run into traffic on the way down unless you go during off-peak hours when nothing around is open anyway. The uphill side is 2 lanes, so that was easier to travel up and almost as fun as the downhill. There are quite a few spots you can pull off safely and take pictures/take in the view. The uphill side also has a cable car to bring you up higher for views of Kegon falls, Irohazaka, and the valley below. It takes maybe 15-20 minutes to go up or down but you can do a continuous loop pretty easily! There are also some nice hiking trails, water falls, and small businesses to enjoy at the top of the mountain before heading back down for some more fun and views. Just watch out for the monkeys! We saw one at the top (awesome), then coming back up later in the day there were maybe 8-12 right at the bottom of the uphill. It made for some great extra character to the area but definitely keep an eye out for them!
4. Kinu Tateiwa Otsuribashi (Suspension bridge)
5. Kinugawa River Boat
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 121 reviews
