Nikko National Park Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Nikko National Park. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Nikko, Kegon Waterfall & Chuzenji Lake From Tokyo

• Nikko Full-Day Private Tour With Government-Licensed Guide

• Nikko History & Nature Discovery | Private Licensed Guide & Driver

• Nikko World Heritage One Day Tour From Tokyo

• Nikko Private Day Tour From Tokyo With English-Speaking Driver

It’s free to visit Nikko National Park; however, separate admission fees may be applicable to temples and attractions within the park. There are plenty of tours available to explore the area—with prices starting at US$67 for a private walking tour, whereas shared tours with transportation from Tokyo start at US$67.

Yes, Nikko National Park is well worth a visit. It's known for its spectacular outdoor beauty with hiking spots, waterfalls, lakes, and volcanic scenery. Opting for a tour with a guide to take care of navigating makes it much easier to explore the vast landscape. Also, many tours include round-trip transportation from Tokyo for extra convenience.

Per one customer who booked the Nikko, Kegon Waterfall & Chuzenji Lake From Tokyo, "Naomi was an excellent guide. She had great knowledge of the places that we visited on the Nikko tour, was well spoken and easily understood. We had a wonderful time and saw some impressive Japanese shrines. She also gave us tips on where to eat!"

Spread across three prefectures, the must-see attractions in Nikko National Park are Lake Chūzenji, framed by hundreds of trees; the shrines and temples of Nikko, which are UNESCO listed; Kegon Falls, a waterfall that completely freezes in winter; and Mt. Nantai, one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains. It’s also home to Yumoto Onsen, a hot spring resort.

To get to Nikko National Park from Tokyo, you can board a 2-hour train from Shinjuku Station to Tobu Nikko Station. For a slightly faster journey, take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen and transfer at Utsunomiya Station to the JR Nikko line.

Yes, there are plenty of guided tours of Nikko National Park. Most tours depart from Tokyo and last 1-2 days. Tours typically cover multiple highlights, such as Lake Chūzenji, Kegon Falls, and the Akechidaira Ropeway, a cable car that offers stunning views of the park.

There are a variety of hiking trails in Nikko National Park for different abilities and interests. Trails in the Senjogahara Marshlands are ideal for beginners, as they’re flat and easy to navigate. Visit Okinikko to hike through the famous forests, or head to the Ryuo Valley, where you can follow the Kinugawa River as it flows over multicolored rocks. Those looking for a more challenging hike can consider climbing Mt. Nantai, which is 8,156-foot (2,486-meter) high.

You’ll find accommodation options on the outskirts of Nikko, ranging from high-end hotels to hostels. More traditional accommodation types are in Okukinu, including ryokan inns, famous for their service and hospitality, and budget-friendly minshuku.

The best time of year to visit Nikko National Park is during the spring (March-May), when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, and in fall (September-October), when brightly colored foliage brightens the park. These are also the busiest times, so you’ll need to book ahead.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Nikko National Park. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around Tochigi Prefecture:

• Ashikaga Flower Park

• Edo Wonderland

• Toshogu Shrine

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Tochigi Prefecture.