Hotels near Nikko

Nikko is the classic autumn leaf day trip from Tokyo, combining the UNESCO-listed Shrines and Temples of Nikko with mountain scenery. Toshogu Shrine, the lavishly carved mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, rebuilt in its present form in 1636, stands among giant cedars in Nikko town, while the Irohazaka road climbs 48 hairpin bends to Lake Chuzenji at 1,269 m, where the leaves turn first.

Colour starts at Senjogahara Marsh in early October, reaches Lake Chuzenji and the 97 m Kegon Falls in mid to late October, and arrives in Nikko town from late October into early November. Buses run from Tobu-Nikko Station up the Irohazaka road, but traffic on peak weekends can turn a 45-minute ride into two hours. Tobu Railway's Nikko passes cover trains and local buses.

Pro Tip: Visit on a weekday, catch the first bus up to Lake Chuzenji and work downhill to Toshogu in the afternoon. Bring a warm layer, as the lake is often 10°C colder than Tokyo.