Hello everyone! I hope you are all staying warm during these cold months.
I just came back from a short day trip to Nikko, and I must say that although I only spent seven hours here, it was jammed packed full of activities. Today, I’ll be talking about the best way to get to Nikko from Tokyo! Whether you are just interesting in a short day trip close to Tokyo or a quiet place to spend the weekend, Nikko is the way to go.
How to get to Nikko from Tokyo:
The best way to travel from Tokyo to Nikko is through the Nikko World Heritage Area Pass. This pass not only includes a round trip train fare from Tokyo (Asakusa Station or Tokyo Skytree) to Tobu-Nikko Station, but it also covers the bus fare around the major tourist hotspots in the area. It is valid for two days, so it is a great option if you are looking to just stay in town and visit the neighboring temples.
Additionally, there is a four day pass called the Nikko All Areas Pass that includes Nikko and the surrounding areas such as Okunikko, Kirifuri Waterfall and Edo Wonderland, an amusement theme park that is set during Japan’s Edo Period. This is a great option if you are looking to explore more of what the region has to offer.
Where to do I buy the pass? How much does it cost?
You can buy the pass online or in person at Asakusa Station through the Tobu Tourist Information Center. I personally liked going in person as the center had bilingual speaking staff that were more than accommodating to answering all of my questions that I didn’t necessarily knew how to ask in Japanese.
Overall, the pass (including the Express train ticket) came out to about 4000 yen (~40USD) and was comparatively cheaper and more convenient than taking several local trains. A thing worth noting is that along with the Nikko Pass, you have the option of purchasing a separate Express train ticket. This wasn’t explicitly stated very well in the website page so I thought it was worth mention. The pass covers a round trip there and back, however, this only includes the local trains. By purchasing a separate express ticket, this shortens your commute time from three hours to two as you don’t have to make any train transfers. This was a lifesaver as I could just sit back and enjoy my ride instead of worrying about what stations to get off/on to.
Please feel free to check out the website below, as I’m pretty sure they will give a much better in depth explanation about the Nikko Pass. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html
Stay tuned for my next post about my favorite things to do in the area! Until next time