Things to do in Nikko

I am trying to decide on whether to do Nikko as a day trip from Tokyo or spend the night. I will be traveling with my three college age kids. I don't anticipate us getting a real early start, which is one of the reasons why I thought about staying overnight. As far as what we'd do, I am thinking the national park and temple complex, Shinkyo Bridge, Kanmaguchi Abyss, possibly Kegon Falls and/or Ryuzu Falls, and some short hikes. If staying overnight, what would be the best location? I was not finding lots of accommodation options for four people.

The Nikko tour was well worth it for a day trip from Tokyo, with scenic views and a very rustic mountain vibe. Our guide, Ko, was knowledgeable and explained the history and culture of Japan and the sites we visited in a very succinct and informative manner. He was very accommodative to my last minute schedule changes where I had to leave the tour early and helped greatly in navigating all the sites to maximise my time and enjoyment.

Prior to the trip, our tour leader, Mizki (Xiao Bo), confirmed the itinerary details via messaging apps and email. On the day of the trip, due to heavy rain, we couldn't ride the cable car, so we made a last-minute change to the Kegon Falls elevator to make up for this minor disappointment. Along the way, Mizki provided detailed explanations of the historical background and features of the attractions in both Chinese and English. Since the tour didn't include meals, she also recommended good local snacks to the group, making sure everyone had something to eat and drink to avoid getting hungry during the long drive. Our driver, Mr. Wang, was very kind and courteous, and his driving skills were excellent. As someone who has only traveled independently for over twenty years, this was my first time participating in a group day tour. Overall, it was a great travel experience, and I would consider this type of tour again in the future.

The bus had nice big windows to see the landscape views. Throughout the tour the tour guides, Jeffery and Ashley, were very attentive. Ashley was able to explain the sites in 3 languages and recommended a great restaurant for lunch. Even though we got lost and delayed our departure time, the tour guides were able to reach us and redirect us to the bus in a timely manner. Shoutout to the bus driver for the smooth ride down the curvy mountain roads 👍

We've taken 3 excursions through Klook, and on one of them, we were even forced to leave a positive review and take a photo proving we did it. In this case, I'm giving it 5 stars, and if I could, I'd give it 10. Jorge was a splendid guide; he speaks 5 languages. On top of that, he came around to each of us on the bus to talk about whatever we wanted. It was something I'd never seen before. In our case, we talked to him a bit about his life and the history of this temple. It's one of the most positive experiences I've ever had. Putting aside how great the guide is, Nikko is amazing, both the waterfall area and the temple. So far, it's the best I've seen in Japan.

A huge thank you for this tour, it was the best part of my trip to Japan. Special thanks to Ai-san, she put together a fascinating program, told us many interesting things, and is just a very nice person ^^ I recommend it to everyone!

yong is good and well explained. its just its tour so need to be quick and have a lot of place to go.

I would highly recommend this place to anyone who likes Edo period history, and anyone who likes to have a fun, exciting and interesting day out. Bring lots of cash as many of the gift shops and food only take cash. There are free buses from Nikko station. Have the best day!

To avoid any issues, the best thing to do is purchase your entrance ticket to the Toshogu Shrine, a World Heritage Site since 1999, in advance. Nearby, you also have the Futarasan Shrine and Rinnoji Temple, where you can witness the fire ceremony if you wish, which is very unique and interesting.