Nikko World Heritages - One day trip from Tokyo with Kaori
Joined 2019
Nikko is a town of World Heritage Sites located at 2 hours train from Tokyo, surrounded by rich nature of Nikko National Park. World Heritages consist of 2 shrines and 1 temple(below). Nikko mountain has a long history as the sacred place of mountain worship for both Shinto and Buddhism. Here, not only taste the well-known elaborate architectures, but feel the history, culture and nature itself.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Tokyo 23 wards, or designated station.
Meeting *Departure depends on hotel location.
I can meet you at your hotel in Tokyo 23 wards, or designated station.
Take Tobu Express train (about 2H)
Basic : 8:30 Asaksua - 10:23 Tobu Nikko
Tobu Line (Tobu Ltd Express - all seat reserved train) is more common for Nikko, but we can take Shinkansen bullet train if you have JR-Pass, but half of ride would be normal train (seats cannot be secured with JR railways.)
Nikko
Arriving Nikko. Walk to world herigate area in 20min or take a bus or taxi.
Shinkyo Bridge (Sacred Bridge)
A vermillion bridge at the entrance of Nikko mountain.
Rinno-ji Temple (Three Buddha Hall) - (UNESCO Heritages)
Housing amazing three golden large Buddha statues.
Shoyo-en Garden
You can appreciate beautiful strolling garden in Rinno-ji Temple, which designed by famous garden designer Kobori Enshu in Samurai period.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine - (UNESCO Heritages)
The most famous shrine in Nikko, enshrines the first Shogun of Edo.
・Yomei-mon Gate - well-known for its elaborate carvings. You never get bored to see!
・Enjoy famous carvings in Toshogu - Three Wise Monkeys, Sleeping Cat.
・Graveyard of the first Shogun of Edo can be visited if you have energy to climb up the stairs.
Futara-san Shrine - (UNESCOHeritages)
The oldest shrine in Nikko. Popular for good luck and success in love today.
Lunch
Taiyu-in Mausoleum
The third Shogun's Mausoleum. Its architecture is more modest than Toshogu Shrine to show his deep respect for his grandfather.
(option) Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa （*Closed on Tuesdays)
A former summer residence of Imperial Family. You can appreciate the finest Japanese style architecture used by Imperial Family.
(option) Kanmangafuchi Abyss hiking trail
Many Jizo-Statues along the riverside trail. Nice hiking to a row of about 70 stone statues of Jizo, Bodhisattva who care for the deceased. Off-the beaten, but not too far from world heritage sites area.
(+2H option) Kegon Falls - (Except autumn foliage season)
If interested in Kegon Falls, we need 1 hour extra. We go for Kegon Falls in the morning, back to World Heritage area in the afternoon. Be noted we might not be able to finish all temples depending on the time we spent for Kegon Falls.
*NOT possible during autumn foliage season due to heavy traffic jam even on weekdays. We need to stay in the area to enjoy foliage in Nikko.
Taka local bus or taxi
Back to Tobu Nikko station or JR station in Nikko.
Take Tobu Express train back to Tokyo (about 2H)
16:21 Tobu Nikko - Asakusa 18:15
16:38 Tobu Nikko - Shinjuku 18:35
Or later trains for Asakusa transfers possible. (If JR-pass, we take JR trains.)
Back to Tokyo
Ending time depends on your hotel location and train we take.
End of tour
At your hotel, or your choice in Tokyo 23 wards.
Ending Point
At your hotel, or your choice in Tokyo 23 wards.
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee, hotel meet-up, send-off in Tokyo
transportation fee (you and guide), food and drink (you and guide), entrance fee (you and guide)
World Heritage Pass : adult 600 yen, child 300 yen
( If Kegon Falls : Lake Chuzenji Pass 2,300 yen or taxi about 18,000yen~ )
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●Transportation fee
【Basic plan】by Tobu Express (2H) (depends on hotel location)
If from Asakusa to Tobu-nikko : 2,860 yen × 2 times = 5,720 yen
If from Shinjuku to Tobu-nikko : 4,080 yen× 2 times = 8,160 yen (7:31 Shinjuku - 09:27 Tobu Nikko) *More expensive because shared two company lines.
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【For JR-pass holders】(2H)
Shinkansen : Free for you with JR-pass,
For guide : 5,590 yen ×2 times = 11,180 yen
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【Shinkansen plan】(2H)
Between Tokyo and Nikko (you and guide) : 5,380 yen ×2 times = 10,760 yen
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●Admission
Toshogu Shrine：adult 1,600 yen, elementary& junior 450 yen
Rinnoji Temple Set Ticket (Sanbutudo & Taiyu-in & Shoyo-en Garden) : adult 1,000 yen, elementary& junior 500 yen
Futarasan Shrine’s garden area : adult 200 yen, elementary& junior 100 yen
(option)
If Tamozawa Imperial Villa : adult 600 yen, elementary& junior 300 yen
If Kegon Falls (Elevators : adult 570 yen, elementary 340 yen)
【Optional】Hired cars
I'm happy to work with hired car you arranged at your end.
Tour Important Information
・This tour includes 4H train ride for round trip from Tokyo. (If Kegon Falls,+1H option).
・Kegon Falls is NOT possible during autumn foliage season due to heavy traffic jam even on weekdays.
・Nikko's World Heritage sites are in mountainous area. No easy access like elevators. Wheelchair accessibility is not good.
・If someone in your group has difficulties with stairs, please let me know in advance. The spots we can visit will be limited.
・Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Sandals are not good here.
This tour is only available on Weekdays to escape from congestion in Nikko Toshogu.
Important message from the supplier
- Kindly make an inquiry only for my available days on my calendar on GoWithGuide.
- I do tours up to 4 people to maximize each person's experience.
- I'm Tokyo based. My tours basically start/end in Tokyo. If you like to start/end outside Tokyo 23 wards, kindly cover my transportation fee from/to there. Thank you for understanding.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2019
About Tour Guide Kaori S.
Kon-ni-chi-wa. Hello! I'm Kaori, having lived in Tokyo for more than 20 years since I got married to a photographer who lives here. Originally from Shizuoka prefecture which has Mt.Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan. I took 2 working-holiday-visa stays in my younger days. One is in Toronto, Canada, and another is Australia touring by motorcycle. One year respectively.
I love travel both international and domestic. That's why I love helping individual travelers rather than group tours, because I myself love travel freely. Love nature, gardens, trekking, greenery, also anime. My favorite is taking you to the off-the-beaten tracks where I love.
As a national government licensed guide, I've got deep knowledge of Japanese culture and history. I really enjoy talking about the way of life with people from different cultures. We see what you like and talk what you are interested in. That's my style. If you don't know what to want, I can help you with that.
I'm happy to make tailor-made tours only for you (up to 4 people) upon your request.
・Half Day as you like (up to 4 hours) : 40,000 JPY
・Full Day as you like (up to 8 hours) : 64,000 JPY
・Extra hour over 8hours : 6,000 JPY/hour
I'm quite an outgoing person, ( but organized well! ), easy to get along with anybody, including small kids to teenagers. Can't wait to see you soon!
Reviews
Tom C.
“100 star rating for Kaori and her husband.”
My family of 3 visited Tokyo during peak cherry blossom season in early April, 2025 and spent 4 wonderful days with Kaori and her husband Ichiro. It's our first time vacationing in Tokyo so we spent a lot of time contacting tour guides for more information starting in October, 2024. After a few email exchanges with all of them, we decided to go with Kaori with complete confidence. She was most responsive, patient, flexible, and informative during our search for a tour guide in Tokyo and after we decided to go with her, we continued to email her with additional questions and changes and she always replied within 24 hours and in most cases, much less than 24 hours. After we met in Tokyo to start our tour, we were even more impressed with how personable she was, how attentive she was all day to take care of our needs, and how flexible she was to new requests and changes. Here are just some small examples to show her big heart: 1. She provided hand warmers and stick-on heat patches for us when it was cold and raining during the first 2 days of our trip. She even brought her own ski jacket for my wife to wear on the second day to keep her warm. 2. We told her about a special, hard to find, high end type of orange we tried during breakfast in our hotel and she bought them for us the same night to try the next day. 3. We asked for her opinion re. a specific type of Japanese cuisine (okonomiyaki) served at a specific restaurant that she was not familiar with so she and her husband went to that restaurant to eat to make sure and she then made hard to get counter seat reservation for us. She treated us like her own family and we felt completely at home and at ease with her the entire 4 days. In addition, we also totally enjoyed spending time with her husband Ichiro who drove us around in their spacious and comfortable family mini van and took many precious once-in-a-lifetime professional photographs for free! Book with her now before it's too late!
Melissa H.
“Excellent customized tour”
This was my husband and my first time in Tokyo. We wanted a tour guide to show us a little bit of everything mixing in recommendations from friends and also teaching us the Metro system. Kaori was very timely and attentive messaging with me to plan the trip and took in all my recommendations mixed in with her suggestions and planning a great itinerary. She also took the time to get us into Shibuya Sky which is very difficult to reserve. On our tour Kaori spent the time teaching us the Metro system and ensuring we knew exactly what to do to easily get to hakone after our time in Tokyo before we started touring. From then on we had a lovely time with her and learned so much about Japan and the culture. In addition to touring Tokyo and doing some great shopping. Highly recommend her particularly for those that have never been. Domo arigato Kaori san!!
Kaori S.
Dear Melissa-san, thank you very much for taking your precious time to write an excellent review on me and sharing nice photos from our time here! Shibuya Sky was fabulous, wasn't it! I’m so delighted to hear you navigated yourself in Tokyo and Hakone transportation on your own after two days with me. Being of help is always my pleasure. I was so glad that both of you showed me many photos to introduce your family and things surrounding you. Getting to know new things is also much pleasure for me. I am so happy guide. Thank you again for letting me share my favorite Tokyo in this beautiful season! Looking foward to seeing you in anther adventure! Arigato gozai mashita! Big hugs, Kaori
Jill R.
“Kaori-san was lovely!”
We had a wonderful 3 days with Kaori-san. She planned a great itinerary, arranged lunch reservations and was flexible and offered alternatives when our children were tired, hungry, etc. truly wonderful experience.
Kaori S.
Thank you for taking your time to give me an excellent review. The time with you, your husband and three lovely children was truly memorable to me. I’ve felt like their aunt Kaori while I was together! Every scene makes me smile when I reminded it time to time. Wishing to see you in another adventure! Big hugs, Kaori
$527/ per group
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