To Nikko or not to Nikko: That is the Question?
 

Hi all,

My daughter's 13th birthday trip to Japan and my addition of Bali is almost planned.

We arrive on June 26 and take a private 6 hour tour on the 27 hitting a lot of top sights. On the 28th, which is her birthday, we are doing kimono making, sushi cooking, hitting the park to find Harajuku girls, and visiting a cat cafe (gives me the heebie jeebies but it's her choice). We are having dinner at Roppongi Robataya. On the 29, we go to the fish market early and eat at Jiro (her major gift) in the evening. Free roaming in between. On the 30, we will either do Disney Sea or Nikko. The hotel has given me a few choices for Nikko but both seem like very, very long days. I'm totally up for it if you guys tell me it's a must see stop and to just do it!!! Like, are we crazy to miss it???

So you know, we leave Tokyo and take the train to Hiroshima, tour around and then go to Miyajima for 2 nights. We then go to Kyoto for 5 nights, inclusive of a day trip to Nara which is booked. We then go to Osaka to fly to Bali.

So knowing our full itinerary, do we Nikko or not? Please advise.

Also, for all you Bali lovers we hired Putu for 3 days! Two days in Ubud and one in Seminyak and our transfer between the two. So excited as I know he is beloved by many!

Thanks for your advice in advance.

I've visited Japan 8 times (leisure) and have not you been to Nikko.

not<s> you</s> yet

I really enjoyed Nikko, but it depends on what you want to see and experience!

Here are the things that, for me, set Nikko apart from the other places you mention:

The temples and shrines are unlike any of the others I saw in Japan in terms of architecture, design, and ornamentation.

I had time to go to Lake Chuzenji, visiting the beautiful waterfall, Kegon-no-Taki, en route:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3812.html

There is a small, but excellent museum of painted screens (the Nikkō Tōshō-gū Museum of Art).

BTW, it is easy to visit Nikko on your own -- no need for a tour.

Hope that helps!

Nikko was probably our favorite temple complex that we saw in Japan. I found the 2 hour train ride relaxing, rather than exhausting. I thought it was worth the time even for a day trip. I agree that you don't need to do it with a tour. We left at 8am, got there by 10am. With seeing the temples and having lunch and walking back to the train station down the main street stopping in shops, we were still able to cath a 3-ish train back to Tokyo. Be sure to go to the Iemitsu Mausoleum and the adjacent temples. Very few people ventured that far back. Not only was it the least crowded, but one of our favorite parts. Have fun!

Thanks all. I think we go to Nikko! russ_in_la, the way you did it sounds very reasonable and does not feel rushed. I now agree that we can do it without a set tour, which is what sounded long and taxing. kja, thanks for taking the time for telling me what sets it apart from our other destinations. I'm intrigued!

Take care!

"Be sure to go to the Iemitsu Mausoleum.... Very few people ventured that far back."

The day I was there, this mausoleum was very busy -- as I recall, I had to wait in line twice to get through narrow gates. All the more opportunity to give the ornamental details due consideration! The waits weren't long though, and the crowds were polite. And if my experience was a bit different than russ_in_LA's, I agree that it was worth every moment!

Hi kja,

I'm not sure, but you may be thinking of the Mausoleum of Ieyasu, which was indeed very crowded. None of the tour groups stopped at the Iemitsu Mausoleum, so it had a small fraction of the crowds. Take a look at the link below. The one I am referring to is in the upper left hand corner. The super crowded one is top center. Both are worth visiting.

http://www.planetware.com/i/map/JPN/nikko-map.jpg

Although I've conflated two places (sorry), I did encounter crowds at both mausolea: The lines I encountered were, indeed, to see the Mausoleum of Ieyasu. But there were also crowds at the Iemitsu Mausoleum when I was there -- including several tour groups, and I had to wait to enter. I've just rechecked my notes and my photos, so this time (at least) I'm pretty sure I'm capturing my experience accurately.... If it makes any difference, I thought of the Mausoleum of Ieyasu as part of Toshogu and the Iemitsu Mausoleum as part of Taiyuanbyo....

(And yes, I agree wholeheartedly -- both are worth seeing, and I thought the contrasts between them utterly fascinating.)

I'd been to Japan many times before we went to Nikko. It was interesting, and the waterfall up the mountain was fun to see, but none of us (DH, and 2 teen daughters about 10 & 12 yrs) thought it was a trip highlight.

You have a very packed agenda already, plus it is going to be very hot. Also aren't you going with a large group?

I'd save it for another time.

I tend to agree with lcuy.
No argument that Nikko is a must see... eventually.
I enjoyed it with wife and 12 yo daughter, staying at the Kanaya Hotel, with the extra day for Chuzenji and wetland hiking.
However in your case with limited time, I think that adding another Tokyo neighborhood such as Yanaka, Asakusa or Shimokitazawa would be more fun for both you and your daughter.
Plenty of temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara.
Tokyo has Meiji and Senso-ji plus many smaller hidden gems
Do a search for Tokyo Eye NHK on Youtube and and watch some of the many full programs that explore Tokyo itself. The Science Museum, Gundam Statue and shopping in Odaiba is another thought.
In any case have fun

Our day trip to Nikko was our worst day in Japan--perhaps bad luck. We went on group bus tour, arrived near noon, when it was jammed, had OK lunch with the rest of the (large) group then went on to see waterfall and lake---totally covered by fog, could see nothing.
As you can imagine, my view is biased, but I'd vote for more time in Kyoto--perhaps a day at the knockout Miho museum outside of the city instead.

cmstraf, my hotel in Tokyo was trying to sell me on a tour that sounded like yours and it made me start the thread in the first place as it sounded so unappealing. Based on the last few comments I'm still on the fence about it but if we do go, I will take russ_in_LA's advice and go by train without a tour. I will also heed what kalihiwai2 said and make sure I have hit all the spots in Tokyo that would interest our group, especially the kids, prior to making the final decision.

Thanks all. Very helpful as usual.

We just visited Nikko last week, I have to say it was one of the highlights of our trip so far, it is truly beautiful. Very easy to see on your own, we got the train there and walked to Nikko Toshugo Shrine.

Later in the day we got the bus to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls- stunning stunning. Wouldn't miss it.