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A traditional Japanese building with a golden roof, surrounded by trees and a black car parked nearby. 1
A traditional Japanese torii gate with a pagoda in the background. 2
Three people standing in front of a wooden structure with decorative carvings. 3
A group of people standing in front of a traditional Japanese torii gate with a temple in the background. 4
A group of people standing in front of a wooden building with intricate carvings. 5

Nikko 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide & Vehicle

By Japan Guide Agency
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$1,217 per adult* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple adult tickets
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 6h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages

Overview

This private tour is the ideal way to discover Nikko's UNESCO World Heritage treasures and breathtaking mountain scenery, travelling in a private vehicle with a government-licensed local guide. Nestled in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Nikko has been a sacred centre of Shinto and Buddhist worship for over 1,200 years. Marvel at the lavishly carved and gilded Tosho-gu Shrine, the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, and wander among towering ancient cedars at Rinno-ji Temple and Futarasan Shrine. Pause at the iconic vermilion Shinkyo Bridge before driving up the dramatic hairpin curves of the Irohazaka road, where the 97-meter Kegon Falls plunges beside the serene, mountain-ringed Lake Chuzenji. With a private vehicle and dedicated guide, you can comfortably reach scattered sights that are hard to reach by public transport, and customise the day to your interests and pace. This flexible Nikko tour offers an unforgettable journey through one of Japan's most beautiful regions.

Activity location

  • Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Check availability

Van (Up to 7 Pax)

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

Pickup included

Price details
NZ$1,307.81 x 1 AdultNZ$1,307.81
Total
Price is NZ$1,307.81
Until Sun, 5 Jul

Minivan (Up to 4 Pax)

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

Minivan (Up to 4 Pax)
Pickup included

Price details
NZ$1,492.67 x 1 AdultNZ$1,492.67
Total
Price is NZ$1,492.67
Until Sun, 5 Jul

Regular Car (Up to 2 Pax)

  • Activity duration is 6 hours6h
    6h
  • English

Regular Car (Up to 2 Pax)
Pickup included

Price details
NZ$1,216.69 x 1 AdultNZ$1,216.69
Total
Price is NZ$1,216.69
Until Sun, 5 Jul

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Private vehicle
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Customisable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'Itinerary' list'
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under Itinerary
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses

Know before you book

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Transport options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Nikko Tosho-gu

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket not included
Marvel at Nikko Tosho-gu, the lavishly decorated shrine and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate. Your government-licensed guide reveals the symbolism behind its gilded carvings, the famous Three Wise Monkeys, the Sleeping Cat, and the soaring five-story pagoda set among towering ancient cedars.

Kegon Falls

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Drive up the dramatic Irohazaka winding road to Kegon Falls, ranked among Japan's three most famous waterfalls, where the outflow of Lake Chuzenji plunges 97 metres down a sheer cliff. It is especially spectacular in autumn when the surrounding maples turn crimson.

Lake Chuzenji

  • 30m
Pause beside Lake Chuzenji, a tranquil crater lake formed by an ancient eruption of Mount Nantai and lying around 1,200 metres above sea level. Ringed by forested peaks, it offers crisp mountain air and beautiful reflections, especially vivid during the autumn foliage season.

Akechidaira Observation Area

  • 20m
Stop at Akechidaira Plateau, a scenic lookout reached via the Akechidaira Ropeway, offering a sweeping panorama of Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji framed by the cone of Mount Nantai. It is one of the finest viewpoints in the Nikko highlands and is breathtaking during autumn.

Senjogahara Field

  • 15m
“Senjogara” translates to battlefield and here it refers to a mythical battlefield where legends say that the gods of Mount Nantai and Mount Akagi fought once to claim the neighbouring lakes as their own. Taking on the incarnation of a serpent and centipede respectively, they fought and intertwined repeatedly, creating this marshland. The battlefield has now changed to a battle of charms as various plants and fauna reside in the vast field, competing to charm the many visitors.

Rinno-ji Temple

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket not included
Visit Rinno-ji, Nikko's most important Buddhist temple, founded in the 8th century by the monk Shodo. Admire the Sanbutsudo, its grand main hall enshrining three giant gold-lacquered Buddhist statues, and stroll the serene Shoyoen landscape garden with your guide.

Nikko Futarasan Shrine

  • 20m
Explore Nikko Futarasan Shrine, dedicated to the deities of the area's three sacred mountains and founded more than 1,200 years ago. Wander its tranquil, cedar-shaded grounds beside Tosho-gu and discover sacred springs and ancient bronze lanterns with your guide.

Shinkyo Bridge

  • 15m
Stop at the sacred Shinkyo Bridge, ranked among Japan's three finest bridges, whose vivid vermilion arch spans the rushing Daiya River at the entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples. It is a classic photo spot framed by forested mountains.

Taiyu-in Temple Niomon

  • 30m
Visit Taiyuin, the ornate mausoleum of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun and grandson of Ieyasu. Tucked into a quiet cedar grove, its gilded gates and richly carved, dragon-adorned halls are considered among the finest examples of Edo-period craftsmanship.

Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park

  • 15m
Tamozawa Imperial Villa (田母沢御用邸, Tamozawa Goyōtei) 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.

Kanmangafuchi Abyss

  • 15m
Kanmangafuchi Abyss (憾満ヶ淵) was formed by an eruption of nearby Mount Nantai. This gorge near central Nikko is only a few hundred metres long and can be enjoyed from a pleasant riverside walking trail. Kanmangafuchi is also known for its row of about 70 stone statues of Jizo, a Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased. This particular group of Jizo statues is alternatively called "Bake Jizo" (Ghost Jizo), "Narabi Jizo" (Jizo in a line) or "Hyaku Jizo" (100 Jizo). The statues look out over the river and across to the Nikko Botanical Garden, but the botanical garden cannot be entered from the abyss.

Nikko Futarasan Shrine

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket not included
Futarasan Shrine (二荒山神社, Futarasan Jinja) stands next to Toshogu in central Nikko. Much older than its more lavish neighbour, Futarasan Shrine was founded in 782 by Shodo Shonin, the Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism to Nikko and who also founded nearby Rinnoji Temple. Futarasan Shrine is dedicated to the deities of Nikko's three most sacred mountains: Mount Nantai, Mount Nyoho and Mount Taro. Futarasan is an alternative name of Mount Nantai, the most prominent of the three mountains. The shrine grounds are mostly free to enter except for a small paid area to the left of the offering hall (haiden). The paid area features a small forested garden with a couple more halls, a spring, old sacred trees and closer views onto the main hall (honden) that stands behind the offering hall. Located one kilometre from the shrine grounds, the Shinkyo Bridge also belongs to Futarasan Shrine.

Nikko Botanical Garden

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket not included
Nikko Botanical Garden (日光植物園, Nikko Shokubutsuen) is owned and maintained by the prestigious University of Tokyo. As such, it is a branch of the university's main research garden, Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo. The garden was opened in 1902 for the purpose of collecting and studying alpine plants. It is spacious and quiet with a substantial network of paths that allows for pleasant walks and the viewing of the various labelled trees, plants and shrubs. The garden also offers a look into the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, although there is no direct connection between the garden and the abyss.

Shinkyo Bridge

  • 15m
The Shinkyo Bridge (神橋, Shinkyō, "sacred bridge") stands at the entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples, and technically belongs to Futarasan Shrine. The bridge is ranked as one of Japan's three finest bridges together with Iwakuni's Kintaikyo and Saruhashi in Yamanashi Prefecture. The current Shinkyo was constructed in 1636, but a bridge of some kind had marked the same spot for much longer, although its exact origins are unclear. Until 1973, Shinkyo was off limit to the general public. It underwent extensive renovation works in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and visitors can now walk across the bridge and back for an entrance fee.

Kirifuri Waterfall

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket not included
Kirifuri Waterfall (霧降の滝, Kirifuri no taki) is an impressive, 75 metre high, two-tiered waterfall located below the Kirifuri Highlands, a few kilometres northeast of the temples and shrines of Nikko. The sight of the elegant falls cascading down the mountain provides a nice contrast to the surrounding foliage, which is lush and green in spring and summer and displays fiery shades of red, orange and gold in autumn. The name Kirifuri means "falling mist" after the fine mist that is created when the water crashes against the rocks at the bottom of the lower falls. The view may occasionally be obscured when mist or fog covers the valley. It used to be possible to hike down to the base of the waterfalls, but the trail down the mountain partially collapsed several years ago and has been closed ever since.

Kanaya Hotel History House

  • 15m
  • Admission ticket not included
The Kanaya Hotel History House (金谷ホテル歴史館, Kanya Hotel Rekishikan) is a historical building in Nikko that served as the predecessor of the celebrated Kanaya Hotel. The house is open for the public to explore and provides a window into the Nikko of centuries past. It stands next to a bakery which also sells the admission tickets for the house. After the end of Japan's era of isolation, Nikko became a popular summer resort among the foreign diplomats and business people that arrived in the country. The Kanaya Hotel has been one of the premier hotels in the area for accommodating such guests and today stands as the oldest Western-style hotel in all of Japan. While the hotel is now located one kilometre down the road on a hill above the Shinkyo Bridge, its history began at the Kanaya Hotel History House.

Akechidaira Observation Area

  • 15m
Akechidaira Plateau Located near the top of Irohazaka Slope, Akechidaira Plateau has sweeping views over a winding road and a dramatic mountain backdrop. Take the ropeway up to the observation platform for even more panoramic views, including Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji. Alternatively, you can join a hiking trail that runs from the lake to the observation platform via Akechidaira Plateau.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Nikko Tosho-gu
    • 2301 Sannai,
    • 321-1431, Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

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