We’ll be visiting Nikko in mid-may (after Golden Week). We can only visit on a weekend due our schedule. I’ve read that weekends are super crowded, so I’m trying to figure out the best way to plan our time. Depending on the order of sites we visit, we would either stay Saturday night in Nikko central or at Lake Chuzenji.
**A couple of questions:**
* **When is the last bus from Lake Chuzenji to Nikko?** **How often do busses run?** I can’t find a current schedule, but I’ve read that some people had such bad lines that they had to wait for 2 or 3 busses to get a seat. We want to make sure we can make the train back to Tokyo on Sunday late in the day.
* **Which train do you recommend from Nikko to reach Tokyo Bay (Disney) area?** We hope to head back late in the day on Sunday to get the most time in the Nikko area. **How late to trains run from Nikko to Tokyo on Sundays?**
We plan to see the shrines & sites in central Nikko, Tobu World Square (we love miniatures), Kanmangafuchi Abyss, and have some great food. We will take the 50-minute bus to Chuzenjio Onsen terminal to see Kegon Falls, Ryuzu Falls (if time), and walk or take a boat trip along Lake Chuzenji.
**Which order seems better, given the bus/train crowds & schedules?**
**PLAN A:**
Saturday: Arrive Nikko 10:30 AM, see central Nikko sites, sleep in Nikko.
Sunday: Take bus to Lake Chuzenji, hike the falls, do boat trip, walk, etc. then bus back to Nikko. Catch train to Tokyo.
**PLAN B:**
Saturday: Arrive Nikko 10:30 AM, take bus to Lake Chuzenji, hike to falls, do boat trip, walk, etc. Sleep in Lake Chuzenji area.
Sunday: Take first AM bus back to Nikko, do all central Nikko sites, then late train to Tokyo.
Thank you for your help!
1 comment
You can download the schedule from [Tobu’s website](https://www.tobu-bus.com/pc/area/nikkou.html). The last bus from Chuzenjiko is at 20:02. There are buses every 30-45 minutes throughout most of the day, but fewer in the early morning and evening.
Neither of your plans account for Tobu World Square, which is in Kinugawa Onsen. It will take around 40 minutes to get to Kinugawa Onsen station from Nikko station. The rest of your plan is quite rushed, so I’d suggest skipping the world square.
The last regular train you can take from JR Nikko to get to Disneyland leaves at 21:04, and arrives at Maihama at 00:23.