JJapan Trips

Help me plan my day trip to Nikko please

Ok so I'll be in Tokyo in early Oct – peak season, I know, which is why I'm trying to maximise my time there.

I'm struggling to figure out all the transport methods in Japan. My brain hurts hahaha. I put together a little plan for a day trip to Nikko and would love it if someone could please help me sanity check it.

Here are all the things I want to see:

  • Shinkyo Bridge
  • Toshogu Shrine and surrounding temples
  • Futarasan Shrine
  • Kanmangafuchi Abyss
  • Kegon Falls

Itinerary + Questions:

  1. I plan to purchase a Nikko Heritage Pass + Limited Express Ticket so I can get there early. Will board at Asakusa station (I'm staying very close to there). Should I purchase the limited express train ahead of time? If yes, from where?
  2. Please tell me which platform to get on to at Asakusa for the right train. I'm directionally challenged and get anxious about these things.
  3. At Tobu-Nikko station I plan to head into the Tourist Information Centre to buy tickets to Toshogu Shrine.
  4. Then find bus to Shinkyo.
  5. Then go to Toshogu Shrine – are there signs to indicate which way to walk? Or does Google Maps have accurate pathways?
  6. Then Futarasan Shrine – same question as above.
  7. Lunch
  8. Then Kanmangafuchi Abyss
  9. From here I want to go to Kegon Falls. I know it's not covered by the Heritage Pass. This is the most confusing bit. Do I need to have a bus ticket ahead of time? Or can I pay via cash?
  10. Then I want to return to Nikko station and return to Asakusa. When is the last bus from Kegon Falls to Nikko station?
  11. From Nikko I want to take a regular train to Asakusa instead of limited express to save some money, so I'm guessing just showing them my Heritage Pass should be sufficient and I don't have to book anything in advance?
  12. Side question: Apparently the Heritage Pass gets me discounts on restaurants and shops. Any recommendation for where to go and what to get? Probably won't have time but good to know anyway.

Thank you so much!

by Dramatic_Move_6384

3 comments

  1. Peak season is more likely to be late October. I was there in mid November and there was still quite a bit of foliage.

    I did this exact day trip minus Kegon Falls which I skipped as its too far.

    1. I suggest you buy tickets from Tobu Asakusa station a day earlier so that you can catch the first train out. You don’t need to catch the limited express, I took the local train and I was fine. There is quite a long queue so go early in the morning. I just got the pass that covers a round trip.

    2. This is pretty easy to figure out when you’re there. Ask someone at the station on the day or while you’re buying tickets. Station staff are multilingual and used to tourists.

    3. You can just buy tickets at the shrine.

    Just use google maps. The bus to Shinkyo is not frequent and attracts a long queue you might be better off walking.

  2. I did this exact route I think when I was in Japan last year. It’s been a little since I’ve been so details might be rusty.

    1. Yes, I’d buy tickets in advance, especially if you’re going on one of the special trains (Spacia X?).

    2. There’s another railway company? that’d you go to get to Nikko. It’s a separate station but you’d tap your IC like normal to get through, the rest is pretty self explanatory. The limited express fare is the price you’re paying for your seat and to use the rail to get to Nikko.

    Rest were too long, didn’t read but you get out of the train station and the tourist info center is right there. You’ll buy your bus ticket and shrine pass from them and they’ll tell you everything you need to visit the shrines. I didn’t make it past Kegon Falls and will do it another trip.

  3. Toshogu Shrine tickets you can buy at online platforms like Kkday (I skipped the long line because of this).

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