Le mont Nantai dominant le lac Chuzenji — Mount Nantai overlooking Lake Chuzenji

Wikimedia Commons

Nikko undisclosed

Duration : 3 days
Locations : Nikko

A transformative journey blending nature, adventure, culture and spirituality awaits you just outside Tokyo, in Nikko and the neighboring Oku-Nikko region.

For centuries, this region has been a haven of peace where the beauty of nature has inspired people to get closer to the gods. In the eighth century, the monk Shodo Shonin climbed the perfectly shaped Mount Nantai and established a Shinto temple at his summit, opening a long tradition of mountain worship. Eight hundred years later, the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most eminent characters in Japanese history, has chosen this place to build his mausoleum : Toshogu.

Deep dive into the history of Toshogu, the most gorgeous and historically significant mausoleum in Japan, and also a UNESCO cultural heritage. Let monks be your spiritual guides, and outdoor specialists make you feel the grandiosity of nature.

Self-guided tour including accommodations, breakfasts & diners, train tickets, activities. Japan Experience additional value: custom designed activities to experience the natural and historical legacy of Nikko.

3 days / 2 nights itinerary from Tokyo

Departure city : Tokyo
Nikko (2 nights)
Return city : Tokyo

Find more details in the itinerary below.

Why choosing this excursion?

1. Delve into Nikko with a deeper perspective, gaining insight into its spiritual and historical heritage.
2. Exclusive visit of Toshogu with a knowledgeable local guide
3. Selection of the best accommodation at lake Chuzenjiko
4. Exclusive outdoor experiences to fully enjoy the amazing nature of Oku-Nikko
5. Recommandations available in your digital travelogue

Your excursion in detail

Itinerary

Day 1 : Nikko, Home to Japan's Most Remarkable Mausoleum

Embark on a journey from Asakusa station aboard the Spacia X, a newly designed train providing the fastest and most comfortable direct link from Tokyo to Nikko. Upon reaching Nikko, make your way to Toshogu.

On arrival, you'll be greeted by a local guide who will unveil the secrets of Toshogu, a UNESCO heritage site. She will intricately detail the structure and objects that give Toshogu its transcendent essence.

Following this, you will have the opportunity to participate in a guided zazen session and engage in a spiritual Buddhist ritual at one of Nikko's renowned temples, Rinnoji temple. After some leisure time to explore the temples, board a bus to Oku-Nikko and check into your hotel as dusk falls.

Enjoy your dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 : Submerge your body and mind in a nature revered as sacred

Breakfast at your hotel.

Initially a lake shaped by the eruption of Mt. Nantai, Senjogahara has transformed into a 400-hectare marsh over the years.
This expanse is home to over 350 species of native plants and wild birds, with 175 hectares of the marshland included in Okunikko Shitsugen, a designated Ramsar site.

Then, venture into the forest and discover the places that are a testimonial of Oku-Nikko's area history of shugendo (as a “mountain religion,” Shugendo emphasized pilgrimages and retreats to sacred mountains).

In the afternoon, a different outdoor activity awaits you; this time, you will paddle on a standing board in the Chuzenjiko lake, situated at the base of Mount Nantai.

Dinner at your hotel.
Day 3 : Shift away from the spiritual and re-enter the realm of the ordinary

After breakfast, gather at the temple Tachiki Kannon and listen to the stories that the monk will tell you about the place. In the temple, the monks will invite you to experience bead bracelet making or Buddha drawing, two activities thought to be active types of meditation.

With your time left you can stay and enjoy the Chuzenji lake views or go back to Nikko and take a reflective walk on the ancient road that use to link Edo with Nikko. This last walk over, you can head to the station where you will take the Spacia X again bound to Tokyo.

Included in your self-guided excursion

Accommodation

- 2 night in an 3* hotel in Nikko, next to Chuzenjiko

Basic fee is for a twin room, two persons occupancy
Transportation

- Round trip train ticket with Spacia X from Tokyo to Nikko

Buses and taxis in Nikko are at your charge
- Activities & meals

- Breakfasts and diners* at your hotel are included
- Zazen activity in a temple
- Visit of Toshogu with a guide
- Bicycle (e-bikes) in the mountains
- Standing paddle on Chuzenji Lake

*For lunch, you will find addresses carefully selected by us in your travel itinerary.

Other services

Other services

- A digital travelogue made by our experts, including our recommended detailed itinerary (sent 20 before your departure)

- Phone assistance 24/24, 7/7, in English and Japanese bilingual
Not included in your excursions

- Optional insurances
- Lunches
- Buses and taxis
- Every expense that is not in the "included in your tour" session

More information about your trip

Your excursion :

- Prices shown on this page may vary according to the Japanese ¥ exchange rate.

- Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

- Children aged 3 and over accepted. Child rates available for ages 3 to 11 inclusive.

- Pets are not accepted.

- This program is subject to change due to weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control. Please note that in view of the current situation, any information given is subject to change or adaptation.

- Due to weather conditions in the region, this tour is only available between March and October.

- To take advantage of an internet connection, book your e-sim with Japan Experience.

- Reservations for this tour must be made at least 1 month before the tour start date.

- Your travel documents will be e-mailed to you 20 days before departure.

- As this tour includes some sporting activities, we strongly advise you to bring good sports/walking shoes. The activities do not require any particular physical preparation.

Your accommodation:

- Some hotels may ask you for a city tax upon your arrival. This depends on the cities and even the hotels, as some do not include it in the reservation cost. It usually amounts to 200¥/night/person (approximately €1.60) but may be slightly higher in 4-star hotels. It should be paid in cash at the hotel reception.

- Single Room: Solo travelers and/or those wishing to book a single room must pay a supplement at the time of booking. Please note that in the case of a single room supplement for an order of more than 2 people, it will be applied in all accommodations except for ryokans (3 and 4*). Since ryokans are traditional accommodations, individuals under the same reservation are grouped in spacious rooms that can accommodate up to 5 people.

- Triple Room: If you are 3, 5, or more and do not select the individual supplement, a triple room will be assigned to you.

- Hotel Names: The names listed on the website are indicative. In case of unavailability, an establishment of equivalent quality will be arranged.

Your transport:

- Round-trip train ticket on the Spacia X from Tokyo to Nikko, the new high-end express train connecting the two cities.

- Buses and any potential taxis in Nikko are at your own expense