This is intended to be a day trip. The “All Area” seems only good if the Lake Chuzenji sightseeing cruise is very good, or if you’re staying the night in the area, which we won’t be. However, it could also be good if the local ryokan onsen allow non-guests to use their onsen. I saw a video where a youtuber did this, but later I saw they were sponsored, so I’m unsure if this is a thing that regular people could do. Any experience on this?
Also, I saw that you are meant to get the pass itself before the day trip, if you’re doing it physically, as the booth for purchase opens later than the train the day of. So it’s best to go digital for this?
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As as day trip, if you want time to do the cruise or do the day use of onsen at a ryokan (yes, some offer it to anybody), then you would realistically do not have time for the temple/shrine.
Have not done the cruise so cannot really comment and for day use of onsen, that really depend from ryokan to ryokan, I’ve seen places that clearly indicate their opening hours and fee for day use.
Considering this, it seems you need to go to get your ticket even if you purchased online. In that case you might want to plan a day in Asakusa before going to Nikko.
>・Passes may be purchased online up until two days before the departure date.
(Three days in advance when booking both limited express tickets and passes)
・To receive the reserved tickets or to purchase the discount passes, customers may come to “Tobu Tourist Information Center ASAKUSA” located in Tobu Asakusa station.(Reserved tickets can not be mailed by post.)
https://tobutoptours.com/en/nikko-all-area-pass.html
You can buy the digital pass on Klook and then activate it before your trip. You just show your phone to the bus drivers, etc. They know what it is.