Bagintravel
Download
Nikko

Japan travel guide

What to see in Nikko

Lacquered shrines among centuries-old cedars, lakes and waterfalls in the mountains north of Tokyo.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from October to April
Photo: Jordy Meow · CC BY-SA 3.0

Nikko highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Tōshō-gū

    The mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, lavishly covered in gold and carvings.

  2. Shinkyō Bridge

    The red-lacquered bridge over the Daiya river.

  3. Kegon Falls

    A drop of almost a hundred metres from Lake Chūzenji.

  4. Lake Chūzenji

    A mountain lake at the foot of Mount Nantai, spectacular in autumn.

  5. Kanmangafuchi

    A riverside walk past dozens of Jizō statues in red caps.

Day trips from Nikko

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When to travel to Nikko

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Nikko are from October to April.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • May

    Golden Week

    From 29 April to 5 May half of Japan is on the move: bullet trains packed, hotels expensive and queues everywhere.

    What to do: Book reserved shinkansen seats and your hotels as early as possible.

  • June, July

    Rainy season (tsuyu)

    From early June to mid-July it rains often and it’s hot and humid.

    What to do: Bring a folding umbrella and keep an indoor plan for each day; Hokkaido escapes it.

  • August, September

    A typhoon may pass through

    In August and September a typhoon can stop trains and flights for a day (in October it’s rare).

    What to do: Have an indoor plan (museums, covered temples, onsen) for the day it happens.

Curious facts about Nikko

  • The famous three monkeys, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”, are carved on a stable at Tōshō-gū.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: an izakaya. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Japan guide.

Frequently asked questions about Nikko

What to see in Nikko?

Tōshō-gū, Shinkyō Bridge, Kegon Falls, Lake Chūzenji and Kanmangafuchi.

What to see in Nikko in one day?

Don’t miss Tōshō-gū, Shinkyō Bridge, Kegon Falls, Lake Chūzenji and Kanmangafuchi. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Nikko?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Nikko are from October to April.

What are some curious facts about Nikko?

The famous three monkeys, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”, are carved on a stable at Tōshō-gū.

What day trips can you take from Nikko?

Nikko from Tokyo.

Bagintravel · We travel together

Shall we plan your trip to Nikko?

Tell us where and in under a minute you’ll have your day-by-day route, with places to stay, transport, expenses and tips. And we go with you in your pocket, offline too.

The app is currently available in Spanish.

Download Bagintravel See how it works

More in Japan

Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.