HOME Tokyo and Surroundings Tochigi Nikko All-Year Fun: Experience the Best of Nikko (Tochigi) in Every Season
All-Year Fun: Experience the Best of Nikko (Tochigi) in Every Season

All-Year Fun: Experience the Best of Nikko (Tochigi) in Every Season

Last updated: 2 October 2023

Find the best things to do in Nikko in each season. From summer adventures to winter wonders, plan your year-round itinerary today!

Spring: Immerse Yourself in Nikko's Rich History and Culture

Spring: Immerse Yourself in Nikko's Rich History and Culture

Nikko has several sakura trees that are over 200 years old. You can admire their beauty while also taking in the historical structures in "Monzenmachi no Sakura". This area is located near the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, a World Heritage Site. You can enjoy shopping in this area, as it has long-established stores such as a 300-year-old Japanese confectionery shop and souvenir stores. It's a perfect way to enjoy the blossoms while also indulging in some shopping.

Weeping Cherry Blossoms of the Takada Family
Weeping Cherry Blossoms of the Takada Family

It is the most popular place for cherry blossoms in Monzenmachi and was selected as a natural monument of Nikko City. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, they are adorned with lights, so please can enjoy a magical flower-viewing. Aside from this, throughout the day, you can also enjoy the cherry blossoms along the streets of Furuimachi.

  • Monzenmachi
    門前町
    • Address Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture: Yamauchi, Hachiishicho, Miyukicho area
    • Nearest Station 10-minute walk from the JR Nikko Station and Tobu Nikko Station
    • Best time to see: Early to late April

Summer: Liven up your Summer in Nikko with the Ryuo Festival

Summer: Liven up your Summer in Nikko with the Ryuo Festival

The Ryuo Festival is an event held in the Kinugawa/Kawaji Onsen area which heats up Nikko's summer. This traditional festival, which is being celebrated for more than 50 years, features mikoshi, or portable shrines, and events like folk entertainment that liven up the hot spring district.

Aside from the powerful Mando Mikoshi, the gorgeous Onna-taru-mikoshi (mikoshi with sake barrels) carried exclusively by women, is also paraded along the streets. Both mikoshi are extremely appealing. To end the festival, bursting fireworks adorn the summer night sky of Nikko.

In addition, what has become a staple of summer activities in Nikko is the “Kinugawa Line Kudari Cruise”, where you can experience going down the river while looking at the towering Kinugawa Valley. The boatman operates a boat with a wooden oar called "kai" and navigates through sights on the route.

The Line Kudari cruise takes about 30 to 40 minutes, allowing you to enjoy the lush trees and valleys at a leisurely pace. In autumn, you can also see the magnificent autumn leaves, so this activity can be enjoyed across all seasons.

  • Ryuo Festival
    龍王祭
    • Address Kinugawa and Kawaji Onsen area, Nikko, Tochigi
    • Nearest Station Kinugawa Venue: 15-minute walk from Tobu Railway Kinugawa Onsen Station, Kawaji Venue: 15-minute walk from Yagan Railway Kawajimoto Station

Fall: Experience the vibrant colors of autumn in Nikko

Fall: Experience the vibrant colors of autumn in Nikko

Located at the entrance of Okunikko with a circumference of 25 km and a maximum depth of 163 m, Lake Chuzenji (Chuzenjiko) is a place known to be the summer capital of Nikko since time immemorial with its rich environment and gentle climate. From the shore, you can admire the beautiful autumn leaves of maples and Japanese rowan, making this place the iconic spot for autumn leaves in Nikko. There is also a pleasure cruise where you can enjoy cruising from the lake with a view of the mountain covered with autumn leaves.

Another spot for autumn leaves in Nikko is the Akechidaira Ropeway. This is located midway the Irohazaka, a known driving course. It sits on an elevation of 1373 m from where you can enjoy the superb view from the sky. Nikko's popular places, namely the Chuzenji Lake, Kegon Waterfall and Mt. Nantaisan, can be viewed here. You can gaze at the dynamic view of the brilliant autumn colors from the ropeway.

Winter: Enjoy fun activities in Nikko during snow season

Winter: Enjoy fun activities in Nikko during snow season

This is a snow festival held at Yunishigawa Onsen in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. Inside the venue, you can enjoy your meal in the snow covered pillows, and enjoy sledding on the slide.

The highlight of the festival is "Mini Kamakura", which is a row of small snow huts called kamakura adorned with lights. The light of the candle sways and creates a fantastic landscape. Because it is a hot spring area, you can also enjoy a hot spring at a day trip hot spring or at a lodging facility.

Winter is considered the best season for stargazing due to the long nights and clear air. If you're looking for a great viewing spot, we recommend Senjougahara, a marshland located in Nikko that's elevated at 1400 meters above sea level. Here, you can have a panoramic view of glittering stars. However, keep in mind that the temperature in Senjougahara during winter can drop below -10°C, so make sure to dress appropriately and take precautions to protect yourself from the cold before going on a stargazing adventure.

  • Yunishikawa Onsen Kamakurasai
    湯西川温泉かまくら祭
    • Address 1193-6 Yunishigawa, Nikkō-shi, Tochigi-ken 321-2601
    • Nearest Station From Yagan Railway Yunishikawa Onsen Station, take a bus bound for Yunishigawa Onsen for about 30 minutes and get off at the bus stop “Honke Bankyu Ryokan-mae”. 15 minutes walk to Heike no Sato, the main venue
    • Phone Number 0288-22-1525

Nikko Kegon Falls: See different views according to the season

Nikko Kegon Falls: See different views according to the season

Kegon Falls is one of the three largest waterfalls in Japan and is renowned as one of Nikko's leading power spots. The water of Lake Chuzenji falls from a height of 97 meters, creating a spectacular spray. The beauty of the waterfall changes with the seasons - in spring and summer, there is fresh greenery, in autumn there are colorful leaves, and in winter, there is the snowy landscape. You can fully experience the beauty of nature in every season.

You can use the elevator to go to the waterfall basin and watch the water roaring nearby. Between January and February, a thin waterfall called Junitaki freezes and the blue ice makes for a majestic scenery. This spot is enjoyable throughout the year and if you visit Nikko, it is a must-see attraction.

Nikko is an amazing place where you can experience a diverse range of historical architecture, culture, and nature all in one area. It is a destination that you can visit throughout the year, and it is fascinating to see how the same attractions transform with each season. I highly recommend visiting Nikko during all four seasons to fully appreciate its distinctive charm.

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