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  • One-Day Spiritual Highlights of Nikko (Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Taiyuin, Futarasan Shrine)
Nikko Private Tour - Toshogu Shrine : Yomeimon Gate
Toshogu Shrine : Yomeimon Gate
Nikko Private Tour - Toshogu Shrine : Carving of Sleeping Cat
Toshogu Shrine : Carving of Sleeping Cat
Nikko Private Tour - Rinnoji Temple : Sanbutsudo Hall
Rinnoji Temple : Sanbutsudo Hall
Nikko Private Tour - Rinnoji Temple : Taiyuin Mausoleum
Rinnoji Temple : Taiyuin Mausoleum
Nikko Private Tour - Shinkyo Bridge in snow
Shinkyo Bridge in snow
Nikko Private Tour - Futarasan Shrine
Futarasan Shrine
Nikko Private Tour - Futarasan Shrine
Futarasan Shrine
Nikko Private Tour - Kegon Falls
Kegon Falls
Nikko Private Tour - Kegon Falls
Kegon Falls

One-Day Spiritual Highlights of Nikko (Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Taiyuin, Futarasan Shrine)

Highlights
Nikko Tour Guide - Hiroshi S.

Joined 2018

Hiroshi S.
4.93 / 5
(56 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Nikko
Japanese (Native), English
9 hrs 30 mins
Private tour (only you and Hiroshi S.)
Up to 5 people

Feel the atmosphere of Tokugawa Shogunate at the world heritage site!

Rinnoji was established by Saint Shodo in the 8th century, and the beautiful Taiyuin mausoleum is located in the precincts of Rinnoji.

Toshogu was built in the 17th century to worship Tokugawa Ieyasu. You can see the beautiful carvings of Yomeimon Gate, three wise monkeys, etc.

Futarasan Shrine is famous for the benefit of good marriage and inviting good luck. The beautiful Shinkyo Bridge is a property of Futarasan Shrine.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

08:00 AM

Meeting Point

Your hotel

- I will meet you near the reception in the lobby of your hotel.

08:00 AM

Your Hotel

Pick up at your hotel. Go to Nikko from Asakusa Station by Tobu Express.

10:30 AM

Tobu Nikko Station

Visit Rinnoji Temple, Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine. We will have lunch nerby.

Rinnoji Temple

Feel the atmosphere of Buddhism!

Rinnoji was established by Saint Shodo in the middle of the 8th century. There are no buildings named Rinnnoji. All the buildings related to Buddhsm in Nikko are collectively called Rinnoji.

At Rinnoji, based on the belief to mountains, they have worshipped three Buddhas. Thousand-armed Kannon (Kannon with thousand arms) representing Mt. Nantai, Amida Buddha representing Mt. Nyohou, and Kannon with a horse’s head representing Mt. Taro.

Taiyuin is a mausoleum which is located inside the precincts of Rinnnoji Temple, and famous for its beautiful gates. It enshrines the Tokugawa third Shogun Iemitsu.

Toshogu Shrine

Enjoy watching the beautiful carvings of Yomeimon Gate, three wise monkeys, sleeping cat, etc.

This shrine was built in 1617 to worship Tokugawa Ieyasu who was the ruler of Japan at the beginning of the 17th century. After the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu he was buried in Mt. Kuno in Shizuoka Prefecture, but his body was moved to Nikko in the next year according to his will to become a god to rule Kanto area.

You can see the big entrance gate called Yomeimon which has more than 500 beautiful carvings. You can also see the famous carvings of three wise monkeys, sleeping cat, etc.


Futarasan Shrine

Feel the soul of Shintoism, Japanese indigenous religion.

Futarasan Shrine was established in the middle of the 8th century by Saint Shodo. It worships Mt. Futara, another name is Mt Nantai, and has been gathering people's faith. This shrine is famous for the benefit of good marriage and inviting good luck.

The beautiful Shinkyo Bridge, which is the entrance of Mt. Nikko, is a property of Futarasan Shrine.


03:00 PM

Tobu Nikko Station

Go back to Tokyo by Tobu Express.

05:30 PM

Your Hotel

End of the tour.

Ending Point

Your hotel

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

What‘s included

1. Guide fee

2. Hotel pick-up

* Hotel pick-up is included if your hotel is located near a station on JR Yamanote Line or inside the circle of JR Yamanote Line. If extra transportation fees are necessary for hotel pick-up, I will let you know.

What‘s not included

1. Transportation fee (you and your guide):About 8,000 yen/adult including the express fee of Tobu line

2. Admission fee (you and your guide): About 2,500 yen/adult

3. Lunch (you and your guide)

4. Beverages (beer, juice, etc.)

Tour Important Information

(1) It takes about 2 hours from Asakusa Station to Nikko Station by Tobu express train.


(2) This tour is also available for groups of 6 or more. Please inquire about guide fees for groups of 6 or more.


*** FAQ ***

(Q1) Can I use the Shinkansen bullet train to get to Nikko instead of Tobu express?

(A1) Yes, you can. But you need about 6000 yen more for transportation.


(Q2) Can I visit Kegon waterfall in addition to the above shrines and temple?

(A2)Yes, you can. But you need extra 1.5 to 2 hours.

Important message from the supplier

Nothing speceial.

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
Nikko Tour Guide - Hiroshi S.

Joined 2018

Hiroshi S.
4.93 / 5
(56 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Hiroshi S.

Hello, I'm Hiroshi.

I am a National Government Licensed Tour Guide Interpreter in English. I received a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the U.S.

I have lived in a city of Fujisawa, which is a city next to Kamakura, for more than 20 years, and also used to live in Kamakura for more than 10 years. So far, I have visited almost all the temples and shrines in Kamakura. I am sure I can offer you a pleasant trip to the historical city!

In addition to Kamakura, I can also guide you around Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Nikko, etc. because I have visited many places in Kanto area. For example, in Tokyo I can show you around many sightseeing spots, such as Asakusa, Tsukiji, Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Skytree, etc.

I like baseball and used to play baseball, but now enjoy watching professional baseball games. And I like watching Rakugo, Japanese traditional story-telling performance.

Of course, I also like travelling very much, and am interested in Japanese culture and history. So I would like to show you Japanese tradition and culture.

Let’s enjoy a trip in Japan together.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon.


Reviews

Hiroshi is the guy for you!

We booked a full-day private tour with Hiroshi S. on March 27 for our family of four (2 adults and 2 children, ages 12 & 15), and it was the absolute highlight of our time in Tokyo. From the very beginning, the communication and planning were seamless. Professional & Knowledgeable Hiroshi was waiting for us exactly on time at the Meiji Jingu Shrine parking lot as promised. Throughout the 10+ hour day, he was incredibly knowledgeable and informative, sharing deep insights into Japanese culture, religion, and family life that kept all of us—including our teens—thoroughly engaged. A Truly Customized Experience Hiroshi went above and beyond to make the day special for us: Shibuya: He was happy to take videos of our family crossing the famous Shibuya Scramble and even assisted us with shopping at the Nintendo Center in Shibuya PARCO. Cruising & Culture: He accompanied us on the Symphony Cruise, providing wonderful commentary on our surroundings. He also guided us expertly through the Imperial Palace, Senso-ji Temple, and Nakamise Street. Magical Evening: We visited the Tokyo Skytree for sunset and then had a breathtaking walk along the Meguro River to see the night cherry blossoms (Yozakura) The Grand Finale: We ended our epic day at the glowing Tokyo Tower. Flexible and Fair We actually ended up exceeding our scheduled time by about an hour, and Hiroshi was incredibly reasonable with the additional charges. His flexibility made the end of our long day stress-free. If you are visiting Tokyo and want a guide who is professional, informative, and truly cares about your experience, Hiroshi is the guy for you! We would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a personalized Japanese adventure.

Jeetandra T.

Hiroshi S.

Thank you for taking your time to write a review. I’m so glad you enjoyed our one-day tour of Tokyo. Meiji Shrine is a very peaceful place, even though it’s right in the middle of the city. Shibuya is close to Meiji Shrine, but it's a vibrant area for young people and is always bustling with energy. I’m sure you were surprised by the crowds at the Scramble Crossing. On the Symphony Cruise, we were able to enjoy views of Tokyo’s cityscape from the boat, including Odaiba, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, etc. The nighttime cherry blossom viewing was also quite charming. If you have the chance to visit Japan again, let’s enjoy Japanese culture and customs together again. This time we were able to see the beautiful cherry blossoms, but next time, please come to see the beautiful autumn leaves. I look forward to seeing you again in Japan!

Great Times

We had a wonderful experience with our tour guide Hiroshi in Tokyo and Kawagoe. He was incredibly attentive, well‑organized, and thoughtful throughout the day. He kept us on schedule while still making sure we fully enjoyed each stop on our itinerary, which allowed us to see everything we had planned without ever feeling rushed. What truly stood out was how far above and beyond he went at the end of the tour - he personally escorted us all the way to the Shinkansen platform to ensure we boarded the correct train to Osaka on time. Knowing we wouldn’t miss our train gave us so much peace of mind. His time management, attention to detail, and genuine care for our experience made the entire journey smooth and stress‑free. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide and would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Tokyo or Kawagoe.

Delara M.

Hiroshi S.

Thank you for writing a review. I also had a great time with you. Kawagoe isn't too far from central Tokyo, but it's a place where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the Edo period. Besides the Edo-era ambience, Kawagoe also boasts many delicious foods, and we enjoyed things like eel and sweets. In Tokyo, we visited Meiji Shrine, Shibuya, Tsukiji Market, and Asakusa. Meiji Shrine is very peaceful despite being in the city center. Shibuya, Tsukiji, and Asakusa were crowded, but I think you were able to enjoy both the quiet and bustling sides of Tokyo. Was the Shinkansen ride to Osaka comfortable? If you have the opportunity to come to Japan again, let's enjoy Japanese culture and food together!

great day with super nice guide

I really recommend to visit Tokyo with a guide. This way you avoid being lost many times and waste of time. I am very happy I met Hiroshi! He not only showed me great places in Tokyo, but also helped me find a gift I was looking for. I am very grateful for all his help and very nice company. The trip in his company was a great pleasure. He is not only competent guide, but also very good and kind man. Thank you again Hiroshi, for great time and all your help!

Jolanta J.

Hiroshi S.

Thank you for taking your time to write a review. Tokyo's transportation system is very convenient, but also very complicated. I hope this tour helped you become familiar with it a little. We visited the Imperial Palace, Harajuku, and Shibuya, and I hope you were able to feel the Edo period atmosphere at the Imperial Palace, the New Year's mood at Meiji Shrine, and the crowds at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. If you have the opportunity to come to Japan, please contact me again. Let's enjoy Japanese culture and customs together!

Want to Personalize?

$299/ per group

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