Hello! I would like advice on my itinerary for Nikkō, is this itinerary doable? Is it worth traveling one hour and a half to see the Kegon falls? Thank you
6:43 am – Take train to Nikkō at Kitasenju Station
8:30 am – Pick up by NAOC Nikko Base at Tōbu Nikkō station to start bycicle tour
12:00 pm – Finish tour and pick up some fast food
12:18 pm – Catch bus to see Kegon Falls
1:00 pm – Reach Kegon Falls
3:00 pm – Catch bus to Nikkō Tōshō-gū
3:40 pm – Reach Nikkō Tōshō-gū
4:00 pm – Visit Nikkō Tōshō-gū
5:30 pm – Walk to Shinkyo bridge
5:44 pm – Take train to Tokyo
1 comment
Kegon waterfall is, indeed, magnificent, but you’ll likely be jostling with busloads of fellow tourists to see it from the viewing area. My photos ended up being a document of many phones/cameras being raised up by a crowd of people, with the waterfall in the background. I honestly wouldn’t bother with the extra bus trip if that’s the only objective, but instead would spend more time wandering around the town and temples, or perhaps taking a short hike up the hills behind them. To make the bus trip to the national park worthwhile, you really need to spend a night in Nikko, get the earliest bus you can, then either hop on the subsequent buses between places like Kegon base, lake Chuzenji, and Yumoto(?) onsen resort, or hike some of the many trails around the area (finishing with an onsen bath – pure bliss!).