Bus Or Train? How To Travel From Tokyo To Nikko

Nikko

Nikko is a city located in the northwestern region of Tochigi prefecture. It's known for its beautiful natural landscapes, such as the Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji, as well as its World Heritage Sites, like Toshogu Shrine. The area also boasts onsen hot springs. The autumn leaves in the fall are an especially amazing sight.

Tochigi is a prefecture in the Kanto region. It's located close enough to Tokyo to travel there by train, bus, or car, so it's a popular tourist spot for one-day trips.

Photo by Pixta

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How to Travel from Tokyo to Nikko

There are various ways to reach Nikko by train. Here, we'll be introducing routes starting within the city area of Tokyo to Tobu Nikko station.

Travel from Tokyo Station

1. Tokyo Station (Tohoku Shinkansen) → Utsunomiya Station (Nikko Line) → Nikko Station → 3 Minute Walk → Tobu Nikko Station

This route will take you about 2 hours and 10 minutes. The fare is 5780 yen.

2. Tokyo Station (Utsunomiya Line) → Utsunomiya Station (Nikko Line) → Nikko Station → 3 Minute Walk → Tobu Nikko Station

This route uses the conventional lines rather than the shinkansen in route 1. Traveling this way will take you 2.5 hours, but the fare is about half of that when you use the shinkansen, at 2700 yen.

The Utsunomiya Line is a conventional line, but it offers a green car for an extra charge, so if you want to sit back and relax, we recommend that choice. The green car price depends on whether you purchase beforehand or in the train, and also whether you're riding on a weekday or holiday. At most, it will cost you about 1300 yen.

Tokyo Station has many trains, so it's flexible and easy to use for a spontaneous day trip.