Nikkō Station opened on 1 August 1890. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 1 April 1987, the station came under the control of JR East.
In fiscal 2019, the station was used by an average of 1046 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).
The Nikko Kanaya Hotel is the oldest resort hotels in Japan, dating from 1873 as the "Kanaya Cottage Inn" (also "Samurai House"). The current building dates from 1893. Famous guests have included Isabella Bird (1878), Frank Lloyd Wright (1905), Albert Einstein (1922), Charles Lindbergh (1931), Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan (1937), Shirley MacLaine (1971), and Jack Nicklaus (1972). It is part of the Kanaya Group. It you aren't able to stay at the hotel, you can stop in for a view or for a meal or drink in the classic old bar.
The Shinkyo "Sacred" Bridge (神橋, shinkyō) crossing the Daiya River belongs to the Futarasan Shrine. This beautiful vermilion lacquered structure is known as one of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan and is a perfect gateway for Nikko. The bridge was registered as a World Heritage in December 1999. Shinkyo measures 28 meters long, 7.4 meters wide, and stands 10.6 meters above the Daiya River.
According to legend, a priest named Shōdō and his followers climbed Mt. Nantai in the year 766 to pray for national prosperity. However, they could not cross the fast flowing Daiya River. Shōdō prayed and a 10 foot tall god named Jinja-Daiou appeared with two snakes twisted around his right arm. Jinja-Daiou released the blue and red snakes and they transformed themselves into a rainbow-like bridge covered with sedge, which Shōdō and his followers could use to cross the river. That is why this bridge is sometimes called Yamasugeno-jabashi, which means the "Snake Bridge of Sedge".
The Shinkyo has been rebuilt many times but has followed the same design pattern since 1636, when it could be used only by messengers of the Imperial court. It has been opened to the general public since 1973.
The Kanaya Hotel History House" was the original home of Zenichio Kanaya, a court musician at the Toshogu Shrine in the Meiji era (1868-1912). In 1870, Dr. James C. Hepburn, an American medical missionary, visited Nikko and stayed at his house. Foreseeing an increase in the number of foreign tourists to Nikko, Dr. Hepburn suggested that Kanaya open a hotel for foreigners. Following Hepburn’s advice, Zenichiro remodeled his house and opened “Kanaya Cottage Inn” in 1873.
In 1878, Isabella Bird, an English explorer, visited Nikko on her way to the northern Japan. She stayed at Kanaya Cottage Inn for twelve days. In her travelogue “Unbeaten Tracks in Japan,” she expressed her satisfaction with Nikko, Kanaya Cottage Inn and the service provided to her.
Kanaya’s house was originally a residence of samurai warriors during the Edo period. For its unique architectural characteristics, Kanaya Cottage Inn was also called “Samurai House” by its foreign guests.
In 1870, Dr. James C. Hepburn, an American medical missionary, visited
Nikko and stayed at the house of Zenichiro Kanaya, who was a member of Gagaku (an ancient imperial court music) orchestra of the Toshogu Shrine. Foreseeing an increase in the number of foreign tourists to Nikko, Dr. Hepburn suggested that Kanaya open a hotel for foreigners. Following Hepburn’s advice, Zenichiro remodeled his house and opened “Kanaya Cottage Inn” in 1873.
In 1878, Isabella Bird, an English explorer, visited Nikko on her way to the northern Japan. She stayed at Kanaya Cottage Inn for twelve days. In her travelogue “Unbeaten Tracks in Japan,” she expressed her satisfaction with Nikko, Kanaya Cottage Inn and the service provided to her.
Kanaya’s house was originally a residence of samurai warriors during the Edo period. For its unique architectural characteristics, Kanaya Cottage Inn was called “Samurai House” by its foreign guests.
In 1893, Zenichiro relocated his business and opened “Kanaya Hotel” on the top of the hill that overlooks the River Daiya. It was Japan’s first full-fledged western-style resort hotel and has been in operation at the same place to date.
While Japan has undergone dramatic changes over the years, Kanaya Hotel has followed in the footsteps of its founder and upheld its tradition with pride.
Kanaya Hotel History House – with two different historic values
Kanaya Samurai House has been well preserved for over 120 years after it ended its role as a lodging in 1893. In 2015, it was registered as a nationally-designated cultural property and opened to the public under the name of Kanaya Hotel History House.
The house is not only valuable as the birthplace of Japan’s oldest resort hotel but also architectural heritage as an example of a samurai residence. The room where Isabella Bird stayed in 1878 remains almost the same as it was then. The house takes visitors back into the old days in Japan.
The Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa (田母沢御用邸, Tamozawa Goyōtei) is a former imperial summer residence in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture. It was constructed for Emperor Taishō in 1899 and served as a refuge for emperor Hirohito during World War II. The former imperial residence is now open for the public as museum and garden. The villa is one of the largest wooden buildings of Japan and has 106 rooms, most of which were used by the imperial court. The interior is a blend of Japanese and Western design, mixing carpet floor and chandeliers with sliding doors as well as tatami flooring. The villa is surrounded by a large park, currently only one quarter of what it was in its heyday.
After 1947, the imperial family did not use the villa anymore and it fell into oblivion. After major renovation work by the Tochigi Prefectural Government, the villa was opened as museum for the public.
The Parking Lot MapCode is: 367 311 039*52.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Hours :
Open daily 09:00 - 17:00; closed Tuesdays.
Address :
8-27 本町 Nikko, Tochigi 321-1434
1.9
km / 1.2
miles
-
(6
minutes)
6.
Kanman-ga-fuchi Abyss - 憾満ヶ淵
Kanmangafuchi Abyss & Joko-ji Temple
Kanmangafuchi Abyss & Joko-ji Temple
Kanmangafuchi Abyss & Joko-ji Temple
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
Kanmangafuchi Abyss & Joko-ji Temple
Min/Max Time :
15 / 60
Minutes
MapCode :
367 281 452*77
Description :
Located near the Daiya River, the Kanman-ga-fuchi Abyss is a small gorge created by an eruption from Mt. Nantai around 7,000 years ago. From the riverside path, you can see several small statues of jizo, a bodhisattva said to protect children, women and travelers. There are around 70 jizo, but legend holds that the number changes each time you try to count them. Near the upper stream you’ll spot some Sanskrit characters carved into the cliff, said to have been written by Kobo Daishi (774-835), the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism.
The Nikko Botanical Garden was established in 1902 as an educational and research branch of the main Botanical Garden of the Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo ("Koishikawa Botanical Garden," at Tokyo), for the study of alpine plants. At that time, Nikko Botanical Garden was located near the famous Toshogu Shrine. The garden was moved to the present area in 1911. A part of garden of the "Tamozawa Goyotei", a villa of the imperial family, was donated to or purchased by the Botanical Garden in 1950, thereby enlarging the area to 106,980m2.
Nikko Botanical Garden is an institute for research and education of Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo. The main activities of the Botanical Garden have centered on enriching the collections of temperate and alpine plants of Japan and adjacent regions for the purpose of botanical research and education. A total of 2,200 species (130 species of pteridophytes, 70 species of gymnosperms, and 2,000 species of angiosperms) are planted in the garden.
This is the entrance point for the ascending part of the Irohazaka Winding Road (Highway 120) with scenic views of Lake Chuzenji. The highway got its name for having 48 bends, the same number as in the number of syllables in the old Japanese alphabet (each bend has a Japanese character marking it). There were two roads originally, the first built in 1954 and the second one built in 1965, both as toll roads. Since 2019 the road has been only one-way and toll free. The ascending road was the second road built while the descending road (from Akechi-daira) was the first road built.
Be alert for sharp turns and Japanese monkeys along the way. It is about 43 km (27 mi) long and takes over an hour without stops. There are several rest/observation areas along the way: The Kurokami-daira View Point, and the Akechi-daira Observatory and there is a long tunnel, the Akechi-daini Tunnel on the descending part.
This is the parking area to visit the Kegon Falls Lower Observation Deck (via elevator).
Kegon Falls is the most famous of Nikko’s 48 waterfalls. Water from Lake Chuzenji falls 97 m/318 ft straight down to the rocks below creating a dynamic and artistic work of nature. A special lift takes visitors to the basin where the force and roar of the water can be witnessed close up! Impressive in any season, the waterfall looks particularly spectacular when surrounded by the fresh green leaves in May, house martins in June, or the “12 falls” - small streams of the frozen waterfall clad in blue ice - during January and February.
The Upper Observation Deck parking lot MapCode is: 367 240 285*44.
This is the parking area to visit the Kegon Falls Upper Observation Deck (via elevator). This elevator takes visitors to the base of the falls.
Kegon Falls is the most famous of Nikko’s 48 waterfalls. Water from Lake Chuzenji falls 97 m/318 ft straight down to the rocks below creating a dynamic and artistic work of nature. A special lift takes visitors to the basin where the force and roar of the water can be witnessed close up! Impressive in any season, the waterfall looks particularly spectacular when surrounded by the fresh green leaves in May, house martins in June, or the “12 falls” - small streams of the frozen waterfall clad in blue ice - during January and February.
The Lower Observation Deck parking lot MapCode is: 367 240 353*06.
The Nikko Natural Science Museum is located close to the Kegon Waterfall and Lake Chuzenji, performing a wide variety of activities including introducing its nature and history, providing nature information, hiking course guide, holding nature experience event, etc. and as the the center for local information.
A large cinema screens films about the four seasons in Okunikko in 4K. On the first floor, one circuit presents the geology of the area (creation of the huge caldera by the eruption of Mt Nantai), the different ecosystems and abundant local wildlife (bears, birds, fish etc). A second circuit charts the history of economic and cultural development in the former Shimotsuke Province.
Courtesy of Visit Tochigi
Hours :
Open Daily 10:00 – 16:00. Closed Mondays.
Address :
2480-1 Chūgūshi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1661
2.6
km / 1.6
miles
-
(6
minutes)
12.
Former Italian Embassy Villa - Main Building - 旧イタリア大使館別荘本邸
From the mid-Meiji period to the early Showa period (approx. 1890-1930), Chuzenji lakeside was developed as an international summer resort because various embassies and many foreigners built their villas in the area.
These buildings inside the park were built as villas for the Italian Embassy in 1928 and used by the successive Ambassadors until 1997. “The main residence” was restored by reusing the floor board, joineries and furniture as much as possible, and the second residency is maintained as “the international summer resort history museum”, introducing the history of that time.
The main residence was designed by Czech-American architect Antonin Raymond, who came to have a strong influence on modern Japanese architecture. The detailed wood paneling of the interior and exterior walls was crafted from local cedar trees. The residence was used by the Italian ambassadors and their families
Note that one can take the Lake Chuzenji Boat Cruise from this park.
Hours :
Open Daily 09:30 - 16:00
Address :
Chugushi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1661
0.3
km / 0.2
miles
-
(1
minutes)
13.
Former British Embassy Villa & Tea Room - 英国大使館別荘記念公園
From the mid-Meiji period to the early Showa period, Chuzenji Lake was an international summer resort because various embassies and many foreigners built their villas in the area.
This building was built in 1896 as the private villa of Ernest Satow who was a British diplomat and had a major impact on the Meiji restoration. It was restored to the image of the British Embassy villa which was used for many years.
From the spacious veranda on the second floor, you can enjoy “the picturesque landscape” of Chuzenji Lake that Satow loved. He first visited the Okunikko in 1872 and three years later he issued the English guidebook called “Nikko Guide” to introduce Nikko to the world.
In 1896, he built his own mountain villa on the south bank of Chuzenji Lake and enjoyed mountain climbing and botany. Isabella Bird once stayed at this mountain villa and described “the marvelous view of the landscape from the mountain villa” in a letter to her friend. Eventually, the mountain villa was turned into the British Embassy Villa and used until 2008.
Note that one can take the Lake Chuzenji Boat Cruise from this park.
Hours :
Open Daily 10:00 - 15:30
Address :
2482 Chūgūshi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1661
6.2
km / 3.9
miles
-
(11
minutes)
14.
Chuzenji Observation Deck - 中禅寺湖展望台
Chuzenji Observation Deck
Chuzenji Observation Deck
Chuzenji Observation Deck
Min/Max Time :
10 / 20
Minutes
MapCode :
947 178 557*23
Phone :
903-499-0190
Description :
The Chuzenji Observation Deck provides a scenic observation deck in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture that looks out over Lake Chuzenji and Mt. Nantai. Known for its lovely scenery and beautiful autumn colors, this is a popular spot to take a mid-drive stop for couples and families.
The Chuzenji Temple was built in 784 by Nikko Kaizan (Katsudoshonin). It is part of the World Heritage Site of "Nikkosan Rinnoji" (Nikkozanrinnouji) but it is a separate building. It is said that the 11th Senju Kanzeon Bodhisattva (a national important cultural property) of Mihonson was seen by Katsudo Jojin on the lake of Chuzenji and then carved on standing Katsura trees. The god Kannon is still rooted in the ground and welcomes visitors with a gentle expression.
Address :
2578 Chūgūshi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1661
6.4
km / 4.0
miles
-
(9
minutes)
16.
Ryuzu Falls - Parking Lot - 竜頭の滝
Courtesy of Tochigi Prefectural Tourism Assn.
Courtesy of Tochigi Prefectural Tourism Assn.
Courtesy of Tochigi Prefectural Tourism Assn.
Courtesy of Tochigi Prefectural Tourism Assn.
Min/Max Time :
20 / 60
Minutes
MapCode :
735 024 467*77
Phone :
028-854-2496
Description :
Ryuzu Falls cascades 210 m/689 ft down 10 m/33 ft wide terraces of volcanic rock from a historic eruption of Mount Nantai. The name “Ryuzu” (dragon’s head) comes from the presence at the base of the falls where a huge rock splits the waterfall in two. The area is popular for its stunning views of red and purple azalea blossoms in May and June as well as the autumnal red leaves in late September. The viewing platform offers the best view of the waterfall surrounded by the colours of the season. Ryuzu Falls is a popular location for visitors and is known as one of the five best falls in Nikko, along with Kegon Falls, Kirifuri Falls, Urami Falls, and Yudaki Falls.
Hours :
Open 24/7
Address :
Chugushi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1661
6.0
km / 3.7
miles
-
(9
minutes)
17.
Yudaki Falls - Parking Lot - 湯滝 有料駐車場
Yudaki Falls
Yudaki Falls
Min/Max Time :
15 / 45
Minutes
MapCode :
735 141 839*47
Phone :
028-853-3795
Description :
The Yudaki Falls are located on the southern edge of Lake Yunoko. They have an elevation of 70 meters (230 ft) and a length of 110 meters (361 ft). An observatory platform near the basin allows close-up views of the breathtaking waterfall. It is considered one of the five best falls in Nikko.
Nikkoyama Onsenji is a temple belonging to the World Heritage listed "Nikkosan Rinnoji" (Nikkozanrinnouji). What makes it unique is that visitors can actually use the onsen tub in the temple for a modest fee.
The hot spring's history is very old, having been discovered in 788. The temple itself enshrines Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai who is said to cure illness. The original shrine was destroyed in a typhoon-caused landslide in 1966 but was rebuilt in 1973 in its current spot. It is said to promote health and ensure a long life.
Hours :
Open daily 10:00 – 15:00, mid-March through November.
