Hi everyone, thank you for your help!
During our stay in Tokyo we’d like to take a day to visit Nikko and see the nature of lake Chūzenji.
I know the train ride is already a bit long for a day trip and lots of people stay overnight.
The idea would be to leave early from our hotel in Shinjuku and when we arrive to Nikko to immediately take the bus that will take us to the lake. Arriving at Ryuzu falls and walking back to Kegon falls to enjoy the lake view and then head back to Nikko to visit the temple area.
The idea is to stay as long as we can and then just head back to Tokyo when we’re done, just in time to make sure we do not have to catch the last train home.
Do you think it’s realistic to do something like this or is it too much for one day? My biggest concern are the buses to the lake area (I read they do not ride very frequently) and having to rush too too much.
I’d really appreciate your help 🤗
8 comments
I don’t think Ryuzu falls to Kegon falls is as pretty a walk as Yudaki falls to Ryuzu falls… We took a bus to Yudaki falls, walked down to Ryuzu and then lake Chuzenji, then took the lake cruise to town/Kegon falls. That was really pretty.
But we stayed several nights, I’m not sure how realistic it would be in 1 day. It would also depend on time of year – I think in fall it gets really busy so everything would take longer. If it’s not fall you can probably do the lake part but then might not have time for Nikko itself – but you could figure that out in the moment if you’re willing to miss it? You could visit the temple and/or shrine by the lake while you’re there.
Leave Tokyo early, and it’s very feasible. You just need to be aware of the train and bus schedules.
When I was there the traffic from Nikko was pretty bad, never actually made it up to the lake. This was in fall though but stayed 2 days and it was bad both days. I lived in Tahoe at the time so motivation to see the lake was lacking as well. This would be a big day though for sure.
Keep opening time in mind, about everything close at 5 pm. I guess not impossible as other have done it before, but you might not have time to see more than one of the temple and shrine.
For the order, dépend at what time you get to Nikko, if way before 9am, ok start by the lake , but if at 9am, I would do the shrine first, then going back you could take the bus from the lake at any time (depending on schedule) like you can leave at 6pm if you want as hiking does not have as strict openings hours. Also restaurants after 5pm can be harder to find, so find places to eat before going or bring food.
I’d recommend leaving as early as you can to make sure you have time for everything with the bus schedules in mind. Also going on an off day! I went early on a Monday and was able to do see most of what I wanted to see without many crowds.
Tokyo Kenchan has a really good video on it, [you should watch it here.](https://youtu.be/TgQyHOJhZAU) He doesn’t see the temples, though, so you might have to modify the schedule slightly.
As an aside, his channel is absolutely the best for Japan travel advice.
Tokyo resident here. Realistically, leaving Shinjuku at 7:30 is too late. I know it sounds ridiculously early, but you really want to aim to get to the Chuuzenji area by 10am if you’re going to have time to see the falls and the lake and then get back to Nikko to see the Toshogu etc.
A quick check on Google maps says you would have to leave at 6am to do this, which is definitely doable. I’d say go for it as it seems like you can only afford one day and it’s such a lovely trip.
2 of my absolute favourite areas of Japan. Chuzenjiko in autumn was incredible… Then we happened to roll into Nikko during the Toshogu shrine autumn grand festival which included Yabusame.
I hope you fit it all in , I can’t recall how far they were from each other (I was there in ’06) , I do remember the Irohazaka down from the lake being pretty intense though lol.
Have an amazing trip up there! I’m sure you’ll love it.