Day Trip from Tokyo: Nikko's Ornate Beauty and Mountain Vistas

Hiking in Nikko

I spent about two weeks in Japan in May 2024, covering Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone/Gora, Kyoto, and Hokkaido over 13 days. Since there's SO much to do and recommend in each location, I'll break out each post into its own.

Thanks to Japan’s remarkable bullet train system, many seek day trips from Tokyo to benefit from the convenient travel options and to escape the hustle and bustle of one of the world's largest cities. Our getaway from the city included two adventures: visiting the mountain town of Nikko and traveling to Hakone to view Mount Fuji.

If you’re looking for some general dos an don’t about traveling to Japan, check out my Tokyo post. If you’re looking to read more about traveling to Hakone, check out my post on our 1 night, 2 day trip to Hakone! 

One thing about my husband Justin and I - we almost always find a way to hike on our vacations. It has become a tradition for us, not only providing us with an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the natural landscape of our destination, but also serves as a perfect way to get some much-needed exercise to counteract the enthusiastic sampling of local cuisine and beverages that we indulge in during our adventures.

For our day trip from Tokyo, we chose a trip 2 hours north to Nikko! This town is not only rich in history but is also famous for the breathtaking Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site that stands as a testament to Japan's cultural heritage. The shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, and is known for its intricate carvings and the iconic Yomeimon Gate, which is often described as the most beautiful gate in Japan.

In addition to the shrine, Nikko offers numerous hiking trails that wind through the picturesque mountains,

We took the 7:44 AM - 9:29 AM train to Nikko using our JR Pass. In Nikko, there are multiple train lines, but every few hours, there's a JR train line that is shorter, taking less than 2 hours. Interestingly, when you arrive in Nikko, there are two train stations right next to each other - one is JR, and the other is non-JR. We made a mental note of which one was which for our return back in the evening.

We got off the train and immediately caught a bus, which we paid for using our Suica transit pass. The bus took us through the town, past the Shinkyo Bridge, and to the start of the Akechidaira Ropeway Observation Deck, where you take a short ride further up to where our hike began. The weather wasn't great - had it been better, we would have enjoyed beautiful views from the bus during the windy, mountainous drive. Instead, it felt like we were winding through fog and clouds.

We did the Mount Hangetsu - Lake Chuzenji (半月山 - 中禅寺湖) hike. To begin with, the Alltrails statistics are misleading; we spent significantly more than four hours on the trail, and it felt considerably longer than seven miles. Additionally, it began to drizzle as we reached the trailhead, making the start quite slippery. We were glad we packed adequate hiking boots and clothes we didn't mind getting a little mud on.

The trail winds through this beautiful and a little spooky forest, and even with the fog and rain, it felt like we were in a serene and spiritual place, surrounded by Japan's stunning trees. The hike was strenuous, with elevation gain that will challenge the quads and glutes.

As we were approaching the part of the hike that should have boasted view points, just as we were starting to lose hope of seeing anything through the thick clouds, the clouds parted like a curtain, revealing the breathtaking view of Lake Chuzenji! It was absolutely stunning and gave us the much-needed motivation to power through the rest of the climb.

Once we reached the summit, we made our way down to the lake's shore. The water was crystal clear, and after descending, we were grateful for a flat walk along the lake's shore, passing fisherman and locals enjoying the lake. Back at the bus stop. we caught the bus in the other direction. Be warned the buses don’t run that frequently so be mindful of the schedule. Fortunately, we made the bus we needed to make, and had a bit of time to kill back in town next to the two train stations. Following the chilly, rainy hike, we were deservedly hungry. We finally enjoyed some ramen, a must-try dish we had not yet sampled on our trip. Nikko is renowned for its yuba (tofu skin), and it was absolutely delicious in the rich, flavorful ramen broth. It was the perfect way to warm up and refuel after our remarkable adventure. If you find yourself in Nikko, be sure not to miss this delightful treat!

If the weather is looking good and you can time the trains like we did, I would highly recommend this day trip.