For my next sojourn to Japan I was thinking of perhaps visiting Nikko from Tokyo. Doing a search and reading the posts here has given me plenty of ideas on where to go and what to do, but I wondered if anyone had any preference as to how long I should be there for. Is a day trip from Japan more than enough to visit Nikko or should I be more leisurely and spend a night there (perhaps at the Turtle Inn)? This would in early August.

(On the other hand I could go to Fuji Q Highland

I would spend a night. You will probably really enjoy going up to the falls and the lake in the August heat.

I was very glad I spent the night!

I spent two nights in Nikko and had a lot to do both days. You miss a lot of what Nikko has to offer rushing through on a day trip imho.

Aloha!

Hello HT, I've decided to take your advice and do Nikko in two days. I have a night confirmed at the Turtle Inn, but I'm going to see if a second night is available.

What itinerary did you do for the two days you were there for?

Nothing?

Sorry missed your response. It's been a couple of years since we've been, let's see. We did the Toshogu Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge,Taiyuibyo, Chuzenji-ko and the Kegon Waterfall amongst other things like walking the main drag of the town from the JR station to the Toshogu Shrine. Be ready for a lot of hills and stairs in Nikko. I remember we had lunch in a little diner on the main street that had just one person inside to cook, wait on us and clean up. We stayed one night in Senhime Monogatari Ryokan http://japaneseguesthouses.com/db/nikko/senhime.htm which was fabulous and another night in Nikko Hoshino Yado Ryokan which was just ok. I did a trip report on the journey if you are interested.

The scenery on the bus ride up the Ironhazaka Highway to Lake Chuzenji is a nice bonus in itself and just spectacular.

What time of year are you planning to go? Are you using a pass for transport to and from and in and around Nikko? http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/index.html

We just went to Kawaguchiko this past spring and passed Fuji Q on the way. Fuji Q train station is the stop before Kawaguchiko. The Fuji Q Highlands train stop is the outside entrance gate to the park, literally, so you get a good view of the rides in the park. Very compact little park with a couple of nice coasters. Not worth it imho but the young Japanese tourists seem to love the place. Nikko has much more to do and see than Fuji Q http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html but Fuji Q and that area does have that view of Fujisan if she happens to be out that day.....

Aloha!

Hi HT,

I've booked at the Turtle Inn for two nights in the first week of August, so I have probably from 3pm the first day (travelling from Nagoya), all day the second day, and then up to mid-afternoon the thirday, bfore heading back to Tokyo. I'm thinking of getting the all-Nikko Pass, that will cover everything I want to see (and then some.) I'm looking at perhaps doing most of the travelling on the second day (so that's when I'll do the bus ride to the lake and Kegon waterfalls), and do the town sightseeing on the third day.

I was thinking of stopping off at Fuji Q Highland on the way from Nagoya, but the lack of an available hotel room scuppered that- and then the Turtle Inn said there was room, and so that was settled.

I don't really know much about Nikko, so I'm really looking forward to seeing something new. I mean, old.

I am typing this from thw Turtle Inn's Internet machine, I'd like to add my own recommendations for the Turtle Inn. The establishment is clean and tidy, and the manager and his wife are cheerful friendly people. When waiting to check in I had to wait as the manager was on the phone arranging a booking, attestment to how popular this ryokan is. And even better, when I found that I had made a terrible mistake in booking my room the manager was still able to fit me in. And if that wasn't all, there is the small Japanese hot baths as well!

My only reservation is that in you have a lot of luggage, get a taxi. The roads are of different gradients, and you might find that you might give your luggage wheels a bit of a bump if you try to come in via the Tobu bus stops.

Today I went to Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon Falls- both easily breathtaking and beautiful. I took a boat ride around the lake, and was lucky to chance upon a traditional archery competition. Finally I dove into the spa waters at the Nikko Lakeside hotel.

Tomorrow I leave, but I plan to get up early and get in four good hours looking around the temples and shrines before catching the Tobu train back to Tokyo.

Thanks for reporting in. Always like to hear live reports on the road.

Did you get to experience a bus ride up and down the Irohazaka Road on the way to Chuzenji-ko? Kind of takes my breath away with all those turns. Seemed like the bus was going over the hill several times.

Lots of hills and stairs to those temples.....you are going to wish you spent two nights there,lol, enjoy!

Aloha!

Yes, that was totally awesome. The irony is that I wished the cut the trees down so I could enjoy the view- but the foliage are the whole point of the gree mountain

I had to be careful, because not only was it a warm and humid day but also I had blisters on my feet. I'm not sure though are all the hot baths I have been having doing good for my feet?

There were loads of people there, a whole lot of kids' groups decided to attend that day. Ieyasu's tomb took some getting to though, but it was well worth the climb. In fact all of it was, and I managed to do the whole complex in three hours. This is including the museum and Japanese gardens at the bottom of the hill. (I had done the sacred bridge the day and night before, as a walk from the Turtle Inn. There *really* isn't anything to do in Nikko after dark...)

There are some free English language guided tours advertised at the Turtle Inn, I didn't take advantage of them, but future travellers may note this. There is also a long walking trail around Nikko that the hikers here might want to try as well.

Hi, we don't have time to fit in overnight at Nikko...is that a problem you think? Still good for a day trip (with teenagers)?

It may be worth noting that when we were in Nikko a couple of years ago the Turtle Inn owners had two places some distance apart. We stayed in the one with the onsen on top of the cliff over a creek a nice walk out of town central.

mel1, the answers to your question are the same as stated earlier in this thread. You miss too much with just a day trip but if that's all you the time you have it is better than nothing.

Aloha!