Yomeimon Gate in Nikko Toshogu (Takahiro Takiguchi)
Nikko is a great getaway for natural beauty, history, hot springs and entertainment. The forest town is a short, two-hour drive from Tokyo and draws visitors year-round due to its beautiful fall season, refreshing summer activities and exceptional winter and spring landscapes.
For a quick relax and recharge, my family and I escaped the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to beautiful Nikko. Our trip kicked off along the Irohazaka, a winding mountain road with 48 hairpin turns leading to the Akechidaira Plateau.
Akechidaira Ropeway
On the plateau, visitors can take a ropeway to the mountain top observatory for breathtaking views of the Kegon waterfalls, Lake Chuzenjiko, Mt. Nantai, the Nikko Mountain range and the winding road. We had great weather during our visit, so our photos were exceptional.Kegon Falls, a symbol of Nikko that we looked down from the observation point, was only a 20-minute drive from the Akechidaira Plateau.
Kegon Falls
Among 47 waterfalls in Nikko, the 97-meter-tall Kegon Falls is the most popular and considered one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. The gigantic waterfall cascades from Lake Chuzenjiko on the red cliff covered in lush greenery. Take the elevator down to the bottom to appreciate the enormity of the falls from below. As soon as we got off the elevator onto the observation deck, the roaring sound of the gigantic waterfalls overwhelmed us while water splashed over us.
Chuzenji, Buddhist temple
Nearby, Chuzenji, a 1,250-year-old Buddhist temple, is another must-see Nikko attraction. Entering the traditional vermillion façade, dozens of classical wooden temple buildings spread along the lakeside.
At the temple, Tachiki Kannon is one of the many statues housed inside. Tachiki Kannon is the Goddess of Mercy and, according to temple legend, the wooden statue of the goddess was carved by temple founder and monk, Shodo. The statue is said to answer the wishes and prayers of those who worship here, so we made sure to approach and wish for our health and safety.
After our visit, we had a grilled “himemasu” kokanee salmon for lunch at a nearby restaurant. We then 30 minutes down on Irohazaka’s winding road to check out Nikko Toshogu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nikko Toshogu, Shinto shrine
This lavishly decorated Shinto shrine is also the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), the first shogun of Edo. Among the shrine’s 55 buildings eye-catching buildings and five-story pagoda, Yomeimon, the main shrine gate, is the most magnificent and lavish of all. Yomeimon has intricate wood carvings, bright paintings and gold leaf that are worth taking a moment to enjoy before exploring the rest of the grounds.
Inside the shrine, we also saw many quirky carvings on the facades, including a sleeping cat and devious monkeys posing in the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” stances.
Further in, climb up the hundreds of stones steps to the grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu. A bronze urn containing remains of the shogun and surrounding cedar forest will take you back to the days of the samurai.
Our escape to Nikko was complete with our final stop at the shrine. The getaway was the perfect combination of nature, history and culture to get us ready to return to our busy city life. Though our trip was short, Nikko has plenty of other attractions for a longer stay, including the Tobu World Square, Nikko Osarumura (monkey park), Nikko Edo Village, Kinugawa onsen spa, and more!
Don’t miss Nikko while you’re in Japan!
Nikko Official Guide by Nikko City Tourism Association
Check out video of Tobu World Square in Nikko here.
