A Nikko Trip to Remember! Stay at a Luxury Hotel and Enjoy Nature

Nikko National Park: Enjoy Outdoor Activities and a Luxury Stay

Nikko may be best known for its World Heritage sites but a short bus or taxi ride to Lake Chuzenji brings you to the entrance to Nikko National Park, one of Japan’s treasured nature reserves. This area is full of magnificent scenery and historical sites that are worth exploring at leisure by spending time in the great outdoors.

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, which opened in July 2020, is another reason to visit this area. Staying here is a chance to experience the best of Nikko’s rich culture and nature, in an environment that is the peak of refinement.

In this article, we introduce a two-day itinerary that allows you to enjoy a stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko along with exciting outdoor activities in Nikko National Park.

Day One
9:00 - 10:54 -- Travel to Nikko from Tokyo

If you’re using public transportation, the easiest and most comfortable way to travel to Nikko from Tokyo is by taking a limited express train from Tobu Asakusa Station.

Take the limited express Revaty Kegon departing at 9:00 and you'll be reaching Tobu Nikko Station at 10:54. Sitting comfortably in your reserved seat, you’ll be able to enjoy the views on the way with a feeling that your Nikko adventure has already begun.

11:00 - 14:00 -- Explore Nikko City

Picture from Nikko Pass Trip Day 2 - Discover The World Heritage Sites Of Nikko!
Nikko’s World Heritage sites such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Rinnoji Temple can be easily accessed by foot from the station. Before or after your visit, do take the time to stop at the charming shops on the way and taste some of Nikko’s specialties.

Around 14:00, we suggest taking a bus or taxi to The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, which is located in the mountainous area of Oku-Nikko. The ride takes about 45 minutes. If you take the bus, take the bus bound for Yumoto Onsen departing at 14:14 from the Shinkyo bus stop (no. 7) or at 14:16 from the Nishisando-iriguchi bus stop (no. 9), and get off at the bus stop The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko (no. 25). The bus fare is 1,100 yen. If you take a taxi, the fee is around 7,600 yen.

15:00 -- Check in at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko and Enjoy a Dreamlike Stay

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is located on the eastern shore of Lake Chuzenji, in one of the most beautiful areas of Oku-Nikko. We suggest checking in early in order to enjoy your refined stay to the fullest.

From the moment you step into the hotel precincts, the architecture and interior design of the hotel will most surely leave a deep impression. The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko combines Western and traditional Japanese architectural elements and was designed to blend in harmoniously with the natural environment of Nikko National Park.

The interior design employs three dominant colors: white, brown, and black, which define the elegant, relaxing atmosphere. Local traditional crafts such as Nikko carving (Nikko-bori) or Kanuma latticework (Kanuma kumiko) have been employed in the interior design resulting in a refined take on Nikko’s cultural heritage.

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

You’ll be welcomed in the Lobby Lounge of the hotel, a space that is ideal for meetings with friends or for leisurely enjoying afternoon tea. Guests can taste several types of Japanese green tea and roasted tea in the lobby. The staff will kindly explain the distinctive features of each type of tea leaves and prepare it for you on the spot.

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

There are 94 rooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, which are either standard or suite type. The rooms are spacious, elegantly furnished, and offer a splendid view of Lake Chuzenji. They are elegantly furnished and equipped with all the room amenities for a truly luxurious stay. Watching the sun set over the lake from the veranda will surely be a special experience.

In the evening hours, before or after dinner, how about relaxing at the bar on the first floor? The bar offers carefully selected whiskey brands from Japan and from around the world. It is the ideal location for a leisurely chat with a friend in a sublime interior.

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko offers several dining options. Guests can choose from sushi prepared before their eyes by skilled chefs, teppanyaki cuisine with locally grown vegetables and Wagyu beef, or exquisite kaiseki cuisine made with flavorful ingredients from Tochigi prefecture.

Picture courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko
The hotel also has a Western cuisine restaurant, Lakeside Boathouse, with an interior design inspired by a boathouse.

Before going to rest, enjoy the bliss of the hotel’s hot spring baths and spa facilities. Located in a volcanic area, Oku-Nikko is renowned for the quality of its hot springs, which have a relaxing effect.

The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko offers a wide variety of activities that can be enjoyed in the surroundings. These include cycling in Nikko National Park, SUP experiences at Lake Chuzenji, and hiking on Mt. Nantai, whose peak is visible to the north of the hotel.

Chuzenji Temple, a historical temple, is located at three minutes’ walk from the hotel. In addition to visiting the temple and viewing the impressive Eleven-Faced Kannon statue enshrined here, hotel guests can also take part in private goma rituals (*1) held in a temple facility that is usually not open to the public. The monks and priests of Chuzenji Temple are often invited to hold morning Zazen meditation activities with the guests of the hotel.

Additionally, shakyo (sutra copying) or shabutsu (drawing the image of the Buddha) experiences can be enjoyed by all visitors.

Do consider enjoying some of these activities on the second day of your stay.

*1 Goma ritual... A Buddhist fire ritual.

Day Two
9:30 - 13:30 -- Cycling Tour in Nikko National Park

Cycling tours in Nikko National Park can be booked through The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko. These tours are held by NAOC (Nature Adventure Outdoor Club), a company that offers various types of outdoor activities in Nikko National Park, including stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Chuzenji, rafting in Kinugawa River, and canyoning.

NAOC has friendly English-speaking staff who are very knowledgeable about Nikko National Park and will help you make the most out of your visit.

The cycling tours use environmentally friendly mountain e-bikes, which are electrically assisted and make pedaling along slopes and hills an effortless task. You can choose the length of your tour and the area that you want to explore. Tours start in the morning from 9:00 or 9:30, and the NAOC staff can pick you up at the hotel!

For this coverage, we took the Stay Wild tour, which takes you on a ride through Nikko National Park to Senjugahama, a picturesque beach located on the western shore of Lake Chuzenji.

On the way, we passed by the entrance to Odashirogahara, a nature reserve with grasslands and marshes that is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including rare species.

The cycling route was about 10-kilometer long, starting from the Sanbonmatsu Parking Lot. Once we reached Senjugahama Beach, the views were simply breathtaking!

Cycling tour fees range between 9,000 yen and 15,500 yen for one person, depending on the length of the course. (*Tour fees include gear and bicycle rental, as well as the guide fee.)

NAOC offers a wide range of fun outdoor activities for every season. These tours and activities are the best way to explore and discover the splendid nature of Nikko National Park!

Afternoon -- Enjoy a Walk to Kegon Falls

For the afternoon on your second day in Oku-Nikko, we suggest taking a walk to Kegon Falls, which is located just a few minutes away on foot from The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko.

This 97-meter waterfall fed by Lake Chuzenji was formed through the volcanic activity of Mt. Nantai. While it is possible to view the waterfall from above, it is definitely worth taking the elevator more than 100 meters underground to the observatory. Once there, you'll realize why Kegon Falls is considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan.

Back to Tokyo

After enjoying your time at Oku-Nikko at leisure, return to Nikko City by bus or taxi and take a limited express to Asakusa Station from Tobu Nikko Station.

The rich nature of Nikko National Park will certainly leave a strong impression, especially if you stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko. The time spent here will be a truly refined and memorable experience.

Route Summary
Tobu Asakusa Station → Tobu Nikko Station → Stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko → Cycling Tour in Nikko National Park → Kegon Falls → Tobu Nikko Station → Tobu Asakusa Station

Expenses
Travel to Tobu Nikko Station (roundtrip): 5,500 yen
Bus fare to The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko (roundtrip): 2,200 yen (*Please consider using the convenient Nikko All Area Pass (6,400 yen), which includes the train fare and the bus fare to Oku-Nikko)
Cycling tour in Nikko National Park: from 9,000 yen/person

*Measures taken by TOBU Railway in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections.

The writer visited these facilities on October 25, 2021.

Supported by TOBU Railway Co., LTD.