Nikkō Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Nikkō is best reached from Tokyo via the Tōbu-Nikkō line from Asakusa station. You can usually get last-minute seats on reserved tokkyū (limited express) trains (¥2740, one hour 50 minutes) about every 30 minutes from 7.30am to 10am, hourly thereafter. Kaisoku (rapid) trains (¥1320, 2½ hours, hourly from 6.20am to 4.30pm) require no reservation. For either train, you may have to change at Shimo-imaichi. Be sure to ride in the first two cars to reach Nikkō (some cars may separate at an intermediate stop).

JR makes four daily runs between Nikko and Tokyo’s Shinjuku (¥3900) and Ikebukuro (¥3770) stations, in about two hours. Otherwise, travelling by JR is time-consuming and costly without a JR Pass. Take the shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Utsunomiya (¥4800, 50 minutes) and change there for an ordinary train to Nikkō (¥740, 45 minutes).

Land

Train/bus passes

Tōbu Railway offers two passes covering rail transport from Asakusa to Nikkō (though not the tokkyū surcharge, from ¥1040) and unlimited hop-on-hop-off bus services around Nikko. The All Nikko Pass (adult/child ¥4400/2210,) is valid for four days and includes buses to Chūzenji-ko, Yumoto-Onsen and other regional destinations. The World Heritage Pass (Sekai-isan Meguri Pass; adult/senior high/junior high/child ¥3600/3200/3000/1700, two days) includes buses to the World Heritage sights, plus admission to Tōshōgu, Rinnō-ji and Futarasan Jinja. Purchase these passes at the Tōbu Sightseeing Service Center (8am-2.30pm) in Asakusa station. Bus stops are announced in English.

Tōbu nikkō bus free pass

If you’ve already got your rail ticket, two-day bus-only passes allow unlimited rides between Nikkō and Yumoto Onsen (¥3000) or Nikkō and Chuzenji Onsen (¥2000), including the World Heritage sites. Alternatively, the Sekai-isan-meguri (World Heritage Bus Pass; ¥500) covers the area between the stations and shrine precincts. Buy these at Tōbu Nikkō station.

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