| From Tokyo: | 1.5-2 hr |
How to Get There
Nikko National Park spans four prefectures to the northeast of Tokyo—Gunma, Fukushima, Niigata and Tochigi—and offers a wealth of wildlife and natural scenery, shrines and temples, hiking trails and hot springs. The park is about 125 kilometers from Tokyo and easy to access by car or public transport for one- and two-day outings. The town of Nikko and the Nasu-Shiobara area are the park's gateways.
From Shinjuku Station, Tokyo
Japan Railways and Tobu Railway jointly operate limited express services between JR Shinjuku Station and Tobu Nikko Station. The journey takes about two hours (reservations necessary). JR Kanto Bus runs highway buses several times a day from Shinjuku to Nasu Onsen.
From Tokyo Station
Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and transfer at Utsunomiya Station for the JR Nikko Line to Nikko, which takes around 1 hour 40 minutes in total. The shinkansen also connects Tokyo Station directly to Nasu-Shiobara Station in 1 hour 15 minutes.
From Asakusa Station
Tobu Railway runs local and express trains to Nikko from Tobu Asakusa Station in Tokyo. The SPACIA Limited Express takes about two hours and may require a change at Shimo-Imaichi Station. All seats require a reservation. Local trains are cheaper but slower, taking at least two and a half hours and possibly up to three transfers.
From Narita Airport
Trains from Narita Airport to Nikko go via Tokyo (see above for details). Japan Bus Lines offers direct service between the airport and Nikko in three and a half hours. Tickets cannot be reserved online, but you can purchase them at the Narita Airport Bus ticket counter.
From Haneda Airport
Train services from Haneda Airport operate via Tokyo (see above for details). The Airport Limousine Bus runs to Utsunomiya Station, where you can transfer to the Nikko Line. The trip takes about three and a half hours.
Getting Around
Buses run from Nikko Station to the park's Senjogahara Marshland in about 1 hour 10 minutes. If you take a bus to Chuzenjiko Onsen (50 min), you can walk to Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall, another of the park's most spectacular attractions. Regular buses from Tobu Nikko Station will also get you to Yumoto Onsen (1 hr 20 min).