Nikko Tour
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- Visit
- Nikko Area
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Lunch
- Not Included
- Language
- English/Japanese
About this Tour
The abundance of culture, history and nature has earned Nikko a UNESCO World Heritage designation. Famed for its fall foliage, the scenery is spectacular in any season. The area’s wonderful natural scenery has a long history of drawing Buddhist and Shinto practitioners, and it is also the final resting place for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. You can also enjoy wonderful scenery.
Ideas for this tour
- Departure
- 8:00 am
- Tour ends
- 6:00 pm
Itinerary idea
Pick-up at Your Hotel
Nikko Tosho-gu
- 1.5 hours
- OK
Toshogu Shrine is a magnificent memorial to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. Ieyasu is enshrined at Toshogu as the deity Tosho Daigongen, "Great Deity of the East Shining Light". Initially a relatively simple mausoleum, Toshogu was enlarged into the spectacular complex seen today by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu during the first half of the 17th century. The lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen buildings set in a beautiful forest. Countless wood carvings and large amounts of gold leaf were used to decorate the buildings in a way not seen elsewhere in Japan, where simplicity has been traditionally stressed in shrine architecture.
Rinno-ji Temple
Tamozawa Imperial Villa
- 40 minutes
- OK
Tamozawa Imperial Villa blends traditional Edo and early modern Meiji Period architecture throughout its 106 rooms. The villa was erected in Nikko in 1899, using parts of a residence that originally stood in Tokyo. Before being moved to Nikko, the building served initially as the Tokyo residence of a branch of the Tokugawa family and was later temporarily used as the Imperial Palace. In Nikko, it was enlarged into a summer residence and retreat for the Imperial Family, but suffered neglect after World War II. In the year 2000, the villa was opened to the public after extensive renovation works.
Akechidaira Observation Area
- 30 minutes
- OK
Akechidaira Plateau is located near the top of the ascending Irohazaka Winding Road. At the plateau, there is a parking lot with a free observation area that offers nice views onto the Irohazaka and the valley below. During autumn, this becomes a popular autumn color spot as fall colors spread across the landscape.
Lake Chuzenji
- 30 minutes
- OK
About 20,000 years ago, an eruption of Mt. Nantai created Lake Chuzenji at its foot. At an altitude of 1,269 meters, Chuzenji is Japan’s highest natural lake, with a 25-kilometer hiking trail along its perimeter. During the 19th and 20th centuries it was a popular summer resort for villas owned by foreigners and embassies. The landscape includes blooming azaleas in early summer and bright foliage in autumn.
Kegon Falls
- 30 minutes
- OK
The almost 100 meter tall Kegon Waterfall is the most famous of Nikko's many beautiful waterfalls. In fact, it is even ranked as one of Japan's three most beautiful falls, along with Nachi Waterfall in Wakayama Prefecture and Fukuroda Waterfall in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Drop-off at Your Hotel
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Reviews & Highlights
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Harrison
★★★★★Life-Changing and Highly Recommended Tour!!
If you enjoy history and culture, I highly recommend this tour. After partaking in one of Outech's other tours, Mt. Fuji, I decided to book another with my same guide, Riley (Ryoko). She's absolutely phenomenal, and I highly suggest you request her if she is available. She is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and can answer almost any question you throw at her. If she doesn't know something, she will seek out the answers from the various staff members and stewards at the various shrines and other locations. Read More
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dralixj
★★★★★More than just a driver…
Despite steady rain and lots of crowds we had a spectacular day with our driver/guide Roberto. Fluent in English he was able to amplify the experience by providing historical background as well as interesting vignettes. And he selected an excellent sushi restaurant for our lunch break. We would recommend Roberto and his company without reservation!
Harrison
★★★★★
Life-Changing and Highly Recommended Tour!!
If you enjoy history and culture, I highly recommend this tour. After partaking in one of Outech's other tours, Mt. Fuji, I decided to book another with my same guide, Riley (Ryoko). She's absolutely phenomenal, and I highly suggest you request her if she is available. She is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and can answer almost any question you throw at her. If she doesn't know something, she will seek out the answers from the various staff members and stewards at the various shrines and other locations.
Her English is excellent, and she translated various conversations for me when talking with the staff at various craft shops. I highly suggest stopping by the craft shop located on the other side of the mountain where the Nikko Shrine sits. There's an insanely beautiful Buddhist temple nearby the store that we visited, and the owner's of the shop were so kind they even offered us tea. You can purchase a variety of intricate carvings and other artworks from them. I got a personalised plaque with my family name on it, and they carve it into the wood right in front of you. One of my favourite experiences! As for the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, it's incredibly beautiful. If you're bold enough to walk the two hundred steps up the mountain, you can witness one of Shogun Tokugawa's resting places: a small pagoda containing some of his remains. It's quite a mystical place, I must say. The inner sanctum of one of the shrines is absolutely gorgeous, and they provide guests with a brief tour explaining the acoustics of the building which amount to nothing less than magic. If you go during the winter, I suggest bringing thick socks as you have to remove your shoes before entering certain areas. By the end of the inner sanctum tour, I had almost no feeling in my toes, but I was fine afterwards! We also visited Kegon Falls, a beautiful display of natural wonder, especially in the winter. I do suggest dressing warm as it was quite frigid that time of year, but incredibly worth it. I highly recommend this tour if you're into cultural and natural beauty.
Fleet
Executive Sedan
For 2-3 passengers
Toyota Crown
Luxury Sedan
For 2-3 passengers
Mercedes Benz S580 4 Matic
MPV
For 3-4 passengers
Toyota Alphard
Luxury MPV
For 3-4 passengers
Mercedes Benz V220d
Passenger Van
For 4-9 passengers
Toyota Hiace
Chauffeur/ English Speaker Guide
Our chauffeurs go through a rigorous selection process, and extensively trained on driving skills, Tokyo geography and history. They are energetic and passionate about their jobs, friendly and eager to please our customers. They are ready to go above and beyond to make your trip memorable and worthwhile, and often have a special (and pleasant) surprise for you and your guest. When you think about it, they are much more than a driver/tour guide. They are your personal concierge. Please join one of our tours, and we guarantee to deliver the best experience.
Licensed Tour Guide Option
If you are interested in learning about the history and culture of Tokyo more deeply, we can arrange a licensed tour guide for your private tour. They have passed the national exam, have advanced foreign language skills, high-level knowledge related to tourism such as history, geography and culture throughout Japan and they are friendly, professional, and qualified with extensive years of experience. They know each experience is unique and are passionate about guiding you through this wonderful country we call home. *Additional fee apply.
Our Services
- Bottled water
- Tour guide in English
- Taking photos service
- Snacks
- *Anniversary gift service
* Please request * items when you reserve this tour.
Additional Info
- Pick-up and drop-off locations are in Tokyo’s 23 wards, Mitaka City or Musashino City.
- This tour will have a maximum of 9 passengers.
- Advance reservations can be made a minimum of 24 hours before departure.
- Your chauffeur may not be able to accompany you and your party to certain locations when a parking for a vehicle is not readily available on site. In such situation, your chauffeur may choose to provide you with relevant information about sites inside a vehicle, and answer any questions you may have prior to your excursion on your own.
- The quoted price on the Tours don’t include entrance fees and meals.
- The Tours are subject to extra charge (usually 20% of the base price) in case of early morning and late night departure and/or arrival.
- Some tours may not be available on requested dates due to holiday schedule or a scheduled closure of business.
- Please inquire details when making a reservation.
- We reserve the right to assign a type of vehicle (Sedan, Minivan or Van) most suitable for your trip, based on the size of your party.
- Our tour images are for illustrative purposes only.
Cancellation Policy
The following fees will apply to the cancellation.
For Sedan or Minivan and Van Tours:
Less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time (local time): 50% of Total Price
Less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up time (local time): 100% of Total Price