A Day trip to Nikko, Japan
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
If you want a dose of Japan's temples and old world charm and don’t have the time to go to Kyoto, then Nikko is the perfect alternative. You can take a day trip from Tokyo, with the atmospheric city only two hours away on the Shinkansen.
Nikko is in a hilly area, and is known for its beautiful Shinto shrines, torii gates, and mossy green surroundings. Since we had already visited Kyoto and Miyajima at this stage, temples were no longer a novelty. So, the time we spent in Nikko was more about leisurely strolls and taking in the surroundings rather than ticking off bucket list items.
Here are some key sites that stood out to us:
Shinkyo Sacred Bridge – Nestled between lush trees, this bridge acts as the entry point for Nikko and offers a beautiful sight with a rich history. But the downside of it's cultural heritage is that it costs 300yen to walk along it. We didn’t choose to do so because its not necessary and it looks a lot prettier from the adjacent road.
Lake Chuzenji – Located at the foot of Mount Nantai, Nikko’s sacred volcano, this scenic lake is the perfect spot to sit and relax. We had some hot tea from a vending machine nearby and enjoyed it whilst taking in the fresh, clean air.
Kegon waterfall – This is ranked as one of Japan’s three most beautiful waterfalls and is the only exit for the waters of Lake Chuzenji. The waterfall can be seen from a free observation platform or a paid platform too which offers more impressive views. We chose the paid platform and got quite up and close with the waterfall.
Nikko Toshogu Shrine – This is one of the most elaborate and intricate shrines in Japan and there is a lot to take in this entire complex with a torii gate, a five story pagoda, the main shrine, the inner shrine and mausoleum which requires climbing approximately 200 steps. We did it all and it was beautiful but its up to you how much time you want to spend here.
Iemitsu Mausoleum (Taiyuin) - The architecture of this shrine is very similar to Toshogu however it was built intentionally smaller and more modest as its dedicated to the grandson of the first Shogun, to whom Toshogu is dedicated to. Although smaller, its built on a mountainside and set amongst ancient cedars, requiring one to climb multiple stairs, all of which lends it a more spiritual and calm vibe. This was probably my favourite site in all of Nikko.
Futarasan Shrine - Not as lavish as the other two shrines but also not as crowded, Futarasan's grounds are very peaceful to walk around. Established in the 8th century, most of the grounds of the shrine are free except certain small areas and it is definitely much closer to the natural beauty of Nikko.
Enjoy Yuba or Tofu skin – Nikko is known for Yuba which is tofu skin that is skimmed off after boiling in soy milk. Vegetarians can try this at Bell Café which serves both meat and vegan food options. Our vegan option came with vegetable tempura, yuba sashimi, stewed yuba, rice and miso soup. It was quite an experience and I recommend this place if you want to try Nikko’s specialty.
Shop Yokan as souvenirs - Yokan is a traditional Japanese sweet which is like a sweet bean jelly. It is a Nikko speciality and has been popular among the temple visitors as souvenirs since 1787. There are many Yokan shops around the area and it serves as the perfect souvenir from this area.
Overall, our Nikko day trip was wonderful and its the perfect place to absorb both culture and nature especially if your trip is completely centred around Tokyo.
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