Why visit Nikkō
Townapedia lists 81 museums and landmarks, 31 parks and trails, 186 places to eat, 54 places to stay and 44 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Kegon Falls, Nikkō Strawberry Park, Nikkō Tōshōgū Museum and Tamozawa Imperial Villa.
Weather in Nikkō
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Nikkō
Nikkō (日光市, Nikkō-shi; IPA: [ɲikkoꜜːɕi]) is a city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 2 December 2020, the city's population was 80,239, in 36,531 households. The population density was 55 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 1,449.83 square kilometres (559.78 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Nikkō (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Nikkō on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do44
Ryūzu Falls
Waterfall · 14.8 km
Waterfall in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
32 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks81
Nikkō Tōshōgū Museum
Museum · 1.6 km
Apr 01-Oct 31 Mo-Su 08:00-17:00; Nov 01-Mar 31 Mo-Su 08:00-16:00;...
Nikko Nature Museum
Museum · 10.5 km
1, 日光市
Tu-Su 09:00-16:30
Kosugi Hoan Museum of Art, Nikko
Museum · 1.1 km
Art museum in Nikkō, Tochigi, Japan
Hall of Three Buddhas
Monument and historic site · 1.6 km
Apr-Oct 08:00-17:00; Nov-Mar 08:00-16:00; "Final admission 30 min...
69 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds31
Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
Park · 2.3 km
27, 日光市
Tu off; Apr-Oct We-Mo 09:00-17:00, "Last entry: 16:30"; Nov-Mar...
Tobu World Square
Sports field and stadium · 10.6 km
World monuments miniatures
209-1 Kinugawaonsen Ohara, Nikko
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura
Sports field and stadium · 8.6 km
Lots of shows, worth the travel
470-2, Nikko
Nikkō Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park
Park · 2.3 km
Garden in Nikkō, Japan
.jpg){kind=link}
19 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes186
Restaurant Ranburu
Restaurant · Japanese, Chicken, International
3, 日光市
Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa-Su 09:00-18:30
The Green Terrasse
Restaurant · Chinese, Grill, Italian, Japanese, Pizza, Soba · 0.9 km
Mo-Su 11:30-14:30, 17:00-21:00
Grill & Steak myogetsubo
Restaurant · Steak House, Meat · 1.2 km
Nikko Kujira Cafeteria
Cafe · Japanese, Pasta · 3.7 km
238-6
Mo-Fr 11:00-14:30; Sa-Su 11:30-27:30
174 more on the map.
History
Shōdō Shōnin (勝道上人) established the temple of Rinnō-ji in 766, followed by the temple of Chūzen-ji in 784. The village of Nikkō developed around these temples. The shrine of Nikkō Tōshō-gū was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during the Edo period. It is known as the burial place of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. A number of new roads were built during this time to provide easier access to Nikkō from surrounding regions. Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnō-ji now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō.
During the Meiji period, Nikkō developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. The Japanese National Railways began service to Nikkō in 1890 with the Nikkō Line, followed by Tobu Railway in 1929 with its Nikkō Line.
Nikkō was incorporated as a town in 1889, part of Kamitsuga District, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was upgraded to city status in 1954 after merging with the neighboring village of Okorogawa.
In 1999, 103 structural sites encompassing the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
From the History section of Nikkō on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay54
Churches and places of worship83
Shopping42
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries32
Healthcare19
Map of Nikkō
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Fukushima Airport (FKS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 90 km away.
- Yaita 29 km east, about 29 min by car
- Ujiie 32 km east, about 32 min by car
- Tochigi 42 km south, about 42 min by car
- Midori 45 km southwest, about 45 min by car
- Kiryū 46 km southwest, about 46 min by car
- Nasushiobara 47 km northeast, about 47 min by car
- Ōmamachō-ōmama 47 km southwest, about 47 min by car
- Ashikaga 49 km south, about 49 min by car
- Sano 48 km south, about 48 min by car
- Oyama 53 km south, about 53 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Kegon Taki, Jordy Meow, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 200731 Ryuzu Falls Nikko Japan01s3, 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 250726 Kosugi Hoan Museum of Art, Nikko Japan01s3, 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tobu World Square Entrance monument and Tokyo Sky Tree(replica), Jiang Dong-Qin, Public domain
- Nikko former imperial villa Tamozawa, Fabimaru, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon Gate 2024, Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikko Futarasan Honden M3325, No machine-readable author provided. Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- NikkoRinnoji5390, Unknown author, Public domain
- Mount nantai and lake chuzenji, Uraomote yamaneko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nikko Kirifuri Ice Arena02, Miyuki Meinaka, Public domain
- Nikkō Chūzen-ji 2026, Adrian Tync, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan- Tochigi, Nikko, mount Omanako 2014 2, Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
- Japan- Tochigi, Nikko, Nyohosan 2009, 駅弁 at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- Japan- Tochigi, Nikko, Komanako volcano 2014, Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
- Japan- Tochigi, Nikko, mount Taishaku 2014 3, Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
- Nikko Edo-Mura 7, Gene Jackson from Brooklyn, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 200730 Nikko Kanaya Hotel Nikko Japan06s3, 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tochigi Prefectural Imaichi Technical HS, Nyao148, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan- Tochigi, Nikko, mount Akanagi 2007, skyseeker, CC BY 2.0
- Shōyō-en3, Irina Gelbukh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Michinoeki Nikko, アラツク, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NikkoShinkyo5593, Unknown author, Public domain
- Futarasan Shrine (Nikko) Takino-o-jinja shaden, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Kinu-Tateiwa Ō-Tsuribashi bridge, 掬茶, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Trick Artpia Nikko, Abasaa, Public domain
- Nikko Natural Science Museum, Abasaa, Public domain
- Toit du Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Madame Tatillonne, CC BY-SA 4.0
- にごり湯源泉かけ流し硫黄泉, Oden1215, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, Syced, CC0
- Nikko Shinko Church, gaikan, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Nikko city Omuro elementary school Aerial view (2010-04), 国土地理院, Attribution
- Nikkō-futarasan-jinja okumiya-2, Saigen Jiro, CC0
- Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura 01, Abasaa, Public domain
- Nikko Futarasan Jinja M3292, No machine-readable author provided. Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- JP-Nikko-Sanbutsu-do, Bgabel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mt Oomanako viewing from Senjogahara, 駅弁, CC BY 3.0
- Imaichi High School, Abasaa, Public domain
- NikkoMeiho HighSchool, Asasa198, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Western Village, Jordy Meow, CC BY 3.0
- 202310221235 IMG 8899, ウィ貴公子, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikkokisugekirihuri2, Koda6029, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tamozawa Imperial Villa, Nikko - Tamozawa7853, lumoplank, CC0
- 170824 Kanaya Hotel History House Nikko Japan01s3, 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 250726 Kanmangafuchi abyss view from Nikko Botanical Garden Nikko Tochigi pref Japan01s3, 663highland, CC BY-SA 4.0
_Takino-o-jinja_shaden.JPG){kind=link}
.png){kind=link}
Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.