Nikko Highlights - One Day Excursion from Tokyo
Joined 2018
One day fun excursion to Nikko from Tokyo. Nikko is the perfect destination for those who want to escape busy Tokyo and enjoy great nature and historical beauty. Nikko is designated as Japan’s National Park as well as UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. 2 hours north-east of Tokyo by train. Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine is what you cannot miss. Your tour can be customized depending on your interests. Do not miss tasting local food, too. Let’s enjoy the beauties of Nikko together!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
Your Hotel (in Tokyo metropolitan area) - meet at the lobby
Meeting time might be changed depending on which area of Tokyo you stay.
Terminal Station in Tokyo - Fun express train ride to Nikko area (*reservation needed) enjoying the window views and sharing info about Nikko
We are to take one of the express train depending on which area of Tokyo we are to start;
1) Tobu express from Asakusa
2) JR Shinkansen, bullet train from Tokyo to Utsunomiya, and transfer to local JR line to Nikko
3) JR + Tobu combined direct express from Shinjuku
Nikko area
- Ride area bus passing Shinkyo bridge
Kegon Fall
- Enjoy grand view of the gigantic fall & beatiful Lake Chuzenji ( Ryuzu Fall - optional) *not recommended during mid-October due to traffic jam along Iroha-zaka slope road
Local lunch
- Soba noodle, Yuba (Tofu skin), etc.
Toshogu shrine
- the highlight of Nikko World Heritage Sites, lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen buildings set in a beautiful forest. It is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868.
【Highlights of Toshogu】90 minutes <architectural pieces> five story pagoda, storehouses, Yomeimon gate, Main shrine hall, Mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Three Monkeys, Imagined Elephants, Nimurineko (sleeping cat), etc.
***** depending on your interests, weather & traffic condition, we can focus on the World Heritage Sites and its neaby area instead of visiting upper lake area ******
option ① Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park - Enjoy beautiful Japanese architecturral pieces, crafts, and its garden
option ② Taiyu-in - part of Rinnoji temple, mausoleum of the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun (National Treasure)
option ③ Futarasan shrine - one of the World Heritage Sites where mountain deities of Nikko are enshrined
option ④ Rinnoji temple - Nikko's most important temple originally dates back to the 8th century A)Sanbutsu-do - hall housing three gold lacquered, wooden statues of Amida, Senju-Kannon, and Bato-Kannon B) Shoyoen - a small Japanese garden, especially beutiful with autumn foliage typically in the first half of November
Shinkyo, the sacred bridge
- beautiful small vermilion colored legendary bridge over Daiya river
Path toward Nikko station
- walk back along the street lined up with traditional souvenir/craft shops or return by local bus
Nikko station
- train ride back to Tokyo
Terminal station in Tokyo (Asakusa, Tokyo, or Shinjuku)
- the end of the tour
Ending Point
At any place of your convenience in Tokyo
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 pick-up (inside the metropolitan Tokyo area)
◆ transportation fee (you and the guide) *It differs depending which company line we take.
‐ Basically, we are to use puclic transportation. So, if you prefer hiring a private car, please contact in as much advance as possible for its availability and expences.
- Depending on where you stay in Tokyo, what kind of transportation pass you hold, the train we use will be different. Find the following list for your reference.
[Recommended Train services between Tokyo area & Nikko area]
◆from Tokyo◆ appx. 12,000 yen / roundtrip / person
(From Tokyo) 0740 Tokyo >> (Shinkansen Yamabiko 125, bullet train to Utsunomiya and change to a local train, reservation recommended) >> 0928 JR Nikko
(To Tokyo) 1619 JR Nikko >> (local train to Utsunimiya, and change to Shinkansen Yamabiko 216) >> 1816 Tokyo
◆from Shinjuku◆ 8,160 yen / roundtrip / person
(From Tokyo) 0731 Shinjuku >> (direct express train, reservation needed) >> 0927 Tobu Nikko
(To Tokyo) 1638 Tobu Nikko >> (direct express train) >> 1835 Shinjuku
◆from Asakusa◆ 5,610 yen / roundtrip / person
(From Tokyo) (1) 0730 Asakusa >> (direct express train, reservation recommended) >> 0920 Tobu Nikko
(2) 0800 Asakusa >> (change at Imaichi) >> 0950 Tobu Nikko
(To Tokyo) (1) 1623 Tobu Nikko >> (direct express train) >> 1815 Asakusa
(2) 1723 Tobu Nikko >> 1915 Asakusa ** only in summer as in other seasons it gets dark earlier in Nikko area
[Local Transportation in Nikko area]
(A) Bus Pass for World Heritage area : 600 yen / person
(B) Bus Pass valid to Kegon Fall area : 2,300 yen / person
(C) Bus Pass valid to Ryuzu Fall area : 3,500 yen / person
(D) Taxi : it varys depending on the distance
◆ lunch
◆ entrance fee (per adult/child)
Toshogu - 1,600 yen, Rinnoji (package) - 1,000 yen, Tamozawa Imperial Villa Park - 600 yen, Kegon Fall Elevator - 600 yen
Tour Important Information
‐ Basically, we are to use puclic transportation. So, if you prefer hiring a private car, please contact in as much advance as possible for its availability and expences.*Kindly be reminded that, in Japan, guides are not allowed to drive their cars while guiding.
- Depending on where you stay in Tokyo, what kind of transportation pass you hold, the train we use will be different. Find the info about transportation described separately.
Week days are recommended
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 2018
About Tour Guide Tomoko H.
Hi everyone! Hearty welcome to Japan.
I’m Tomoko.
I am an English-speaking licensed tour guide, and a registered nurse as well.
“Fun Discovering Experience Walking like a Local!” – F-D-E-W-L!
That’s what I suggest.
【Experiences】
My work history is as follows.
1) high school teacher ---12 years
2) nurse--8 years + 2 years as operational manager for Kamakura city vaccination team (during COVID period)
3) tourism related jobs such as tour conducting, guiding, and backyard supporting---10 years
As a tour conductor, I’ve visited about 20 foreign countries (possibly yours?) as well as countless number of towns and villages in Japan.
I’ve enjoyed these jobs while being a mother.
Through these experiences with lots of people from different backgrounds, I've found it a great pleasure to share the joy of learning and experiencing something new!
【Guiding Areas】
<Basic> Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Fuji, Yokohama, Nikko, and other neighboring areas from Tokyo
I’m a specialist in Tokyo and Kamakura as I have lived and enjoyed walking a lot in those cities for decades. To be honest, even after all my years here, I still enjoy exploring like a tourist as Tokyo is such an enormous city with great diversity and is constantly changing.
Kamakura is a historical small city with nice beaches and hills and lots of hidden spots of beauty. Almost every time I go out, I feel I’m still making new discoveries. That’s why I cannot stop exploring.
I would take you to some neighboring areas like Hakone, Yokohama, Nikko, and Mt. Fuji area (Lake Kawaguchiko), etc.
<Based on Requests > *if my transportation & accommodation are covered
Nagoya, Kyoto, Nagano(Nagano city, Snow Monkey park, Kisoji trail, etc.), Hida (Takayama, Shirakawa-go), Kanazawa, Oita, Yamagata, Akita, etc.
My original family is from Nagoya, so I know their culture and even their language(dialect) well. Later in my life, I have lived in Oita, Kyushu(far south west of Tokyo) for nearly 10 years and traveled a lot in Kyushu. I love traveling Tohoku, the northern Japan area, too. I’ve planned and enjoyed visiting many of those local areas in the north, too. So, I could share those experiences with you even while having tours in Tokyo or online.
【Personality and others】
- I love meeting people, listening and talking to them.
- I'm friendly and caring, I hope:)
- I love nature and enjoy hiking and skiing.
- I love seasonal flowers and good local food.
- You will see a lot about Japanese culture, nature, and lifestyle with me.
What has made you decide to come to Japan, by the way? Is it its scenic beauties, exotic culture, history, food, anime, or what else? Is it your business that has brought (or will bring) you here? Let me have a clue and customize your tour. I will make the best tour suggestion for you.
Why don’t you contact me now? I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you! Arigato-gozaimas!
Reviews
Diane M.
“Kamakura tour”
It only took us over 50 years to get to see the big Buddha and Tomoko made it happen. She helped us find everything we asked for and more. If we had more time, it would have been nice to spend two days. We will come again and travel with Tomoko.
Tomoko H.
Diane, thank you for your lovely review. Your memory, your wish, which you have had for over 50 years, touched me and made the Great Buddha in Kamakura, the town I grew up in and have visited so many times, very special. I am sure your trip to Ise was enjoyable. I look forward to welcoming you and Rod to Japan again. Matane & Arigato- Tomoko
Mino S.
“Top rated experience. 5 Stars. ”
Tomoko was the best tour guide that we’ve ever had. She was punctual, professional and extremely educated on the history of Tokyo. Navigating through the city in a timely and efficient manner. I would highly recommend her for any guided experience with a small group or large group. She overdelivered on all aspects and also spoke English very well. Exceptional!!!
Tomoko H.
Thank you Mino for posting such a positive review so soon after the tour. You just arrived yesterday from Boston, and I marveled at your energy and appetite. I am sure you and your lovely daughter Ava will enjoy your further journey as well. I look forward to seeing you again. Best wishes to all your family and my best regards to your friend Mike. - Tomoko:)
Andrea F.
“Japan 2024”
We just got back from our holiday in Japan and quite honestly, we couldn’t have had a lovelier time if it weren’t for our guide Tomoko. She made our first two days in Tokyo so enjoyable. Her kind disposition, her excellent communication skills in English and her ability to get us from place to place understanding our itinerary and our interests (2 adult parents and 2 university age daughters) at our pace was invaluable. Don’t hesitate to book Tomoko as your guide! She took time to explain local traditions and customs, took excellent photos of the family and managed to keep us on schedule so we could see and do everything we wanted including eating and shopping along the way.
Tomoko H.
I'm so glad to hear you had a wonderful holiday, Andrea. Thank you for writing this excellent review just after returning from the trip. I love the photos of us enjoying the market and of me leaving the misfortune I took:) Your husband, Doug, knew very well that you had spent a lot of time researching and preparing very hard for your family, and his first wish was for you to spend some special time yourselves. It was a real pleasure and a privilege for me as a guide to be with you all considerate each other and to spend two very enjoyable days. Thanks to Sydney and Emma, I enjoyed going to shops I wouldn't have gone to on my own. Thanks for broadening my horizons. I wish you and your family once again a happy and healthy 2025. Thank you.
$463/ per group
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