Five days in Tochigi: link both cities or stay two nights at the lake?
For Oya's underground quarry and gyoza, divide your stay into two nights in Utsunomiya, one in Nikko and one at Lake Chuzenji. For fewer hotel changes and more lakeside exhibits, compare two nights each in Nikko and at the lake. The two-night lake stay visits the villas and Natural Science Museum on separate days, then takes the mountain bus down on the final day. Villa itineraries cannot be followed unchanged during the December–March winter closure.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days / 4 nights
Two Utsunomiya nights, then one each in Nikko and by the lake
Spend two nights in Utsunomiya, one near Nikko’s stations and one at Chuzenji Onsen for the underground quarry, gyoza, temples and lakeside villas. Leave from Tokyo Station and return to Asakusa. Day three visits three shrine and temple sites and involves plenty of walking. The villas close from December to March, so the itinerary cannot be followed unchanged in winter.
Two Utsunomiya nights, then one each in Nikko and by the lake →5 days / 4 nights BTake time for Nikko temples, lake nature and villas
Stay two nights near Nikko’s stations and two at Chuzenji Onsen for more time by the lake. Start and end in Asakusa, give Toshogu and Rinnoji a day each, then visit the waterfall, both villas and Natural Science Museum on separate days. The villas close from December to March, so this itinerary cannot be followed unchanged in winter.
Take time for Nikko temples, lake nature and villas →Two Utsunomiya nights, then one each in Nikko and by the lake
Spend two nights in Utsunomiya, one near Nikko’s stations and one at Chuzenji Onsen for the underground quarry, gyoza, temples and lakeside villas. Leave from Tokyo Station and return to Asakusa. Day three visits three shrine and temple sites and involves plenty of walking. The villas close from December to March, so the itinerary cannot be followed unchanged in winter.
Day 1
Walk Utsunomiya’s Gyoza Street, eat at Kirasse’s main store and spend your first night in Utsunomiya.
- Tokyo Station → JR Utsunomiya Station, west side
Take an ordinary Utsunomiya Line train from Tokyo towards Utsunomiya and alight there. Use an ordinary car without Green Car travel. The officially listed walk from the west side to Gyoza Street is about 15 minutes. Explore signs and lanes.
Getting to Gyoza StreetCity tourism organisation's food walking routeCurrent JR station timetables: select the month and operating date
- Gyoza Street → Eat gyoza at Kirasse’s main store
Compare gyoza in Kirasse Main Store’s daily rotating area in the basement of MEGA Don Quijote La Park. Its operating arrangements differ from those of the permanent shops, so check the hours for your chosen area.
Check daily rotating-area hours and meal queues.
Day 2
Visit Oya History Museum and stay another night in Utsunomiya.
- JR Utsunomiya Station → Shiryokan-iriguchi stop
Buy that day’s JPY 2,200 Oya pass at station tourist information. Take route 45 towards Tateiwa via Oya (大谷経由立岩) from Utsunomiya west-side stop 6 to Shiryokan-iriguchi (資料館入口). Distinguish route 47 towards Shin-Kanuma. Official bus time is about 30 minutes; allow extra for congestion.
Oya pass coverage and sales hoursPrices, access and visitor restrictionsOutbound bus stop 6 and weekday timetableKanto Bus current route and timetable selection
- Shiryokan-iriguchi stop → Underground quarry visit and lunch
Walk about five minutes from the stop to the museum. Explore underground quarry exhibits, then have lunch above ground.
Prices, access and visitor restrictionsOya pass coverage and sales hours
- Shiryokan-iriguchi stop → JR Utsunomiya Station, west side
Take route 01 towards Utsunomiya Station from the station-bound side of Shiryokan-iriguchi.
Return weekday timetableKanto Bus current route and timetable selection
Use the Oya pass that day. It does not apply to yesterday’s city walk.
Day 3
Move to Nikko for Toshogu, Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin. Allow for plenty of walking and stairs on this day.
- JR Utsunomiya Station → JR Nikko Station
Take a Nikko-bound JR Nikko Line train from Utsunomiya, choosing a service arriving at JR Nikko in the morning rather than terminating at Kanuma. Walk along National Route 119 to Tobu-Nikko and buy a JPY 600 World Heritage pass at the tourist centre. Buy the Rinnoji combined ticket and visit first, then continue to lunch and Toshogu.
Bus pass salesCurrent JR station timetables: select the month and operating dateBus timetables, boarding points and fares
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Sanbutsudo entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
Take C towards Chuzenji Onsen from Tobu-Nikko to Nishisando Iriguchi (9). Boarding point 2C was in use at the time checked; follow your date’s on-site information. Follow western and main approaches towards Sanbutsudo’s entrance.
Bus timetables, boarding points and faresRinnoji visiting route
- Sanbutsudo entrance → Visit Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin
Buy the JPY 900 Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin ticket first. Sales close at 14:30 in April–October and 13:30 in November–March, earlier than ordinary admission. Visit Sanbutsudo and follow the official temple map on foot to Taiyuin. If time or energy is short, omit Taiyuin and recalculate ticket choices and costs, or choose separate temple days. On restricted Sanbutsudo dates, adjust to available hours. See the attraction guide and temple event notices for dated restrictions.
Rinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlinesRinnoji visiting route
- Taiyuin → Visit Toshogu and head to a station-bound stop
Follow western and main approaches to Toshogu and use the JPY 1,600 single-site ticket for Yomeimon, Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat carvings. Fit lunch and rests between visits without missing Toshogu admission cut-offs: 16:30 in April–October and 15:30 in November–March. Return to Nishisando Iriguchi’s station-bound stop afterwards.
Toshogu admission ticketsRinnoji visiting routeToshogu's Yomeimon Gate, Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat
- Nishisando Iriguchi → Tobu-Nikko Station
Take C or YK towards JR Nikko from Nishisando Iriguchi (9)’s station-bound side and alight at Tobu-Nikko, before the JR Nikko terminus. If stairs at all three are too much, omit Taiyuin or split temples over two days.
Rinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlinesRinnoji visiting routeBus timetables, boarding points and fares
For all three, arrive in Nikko in the morning and buy Rinnoji combined admission before sales close. If time or energy is short, omit Taiyuin and recalculate costs, or choose separate temple days.
Day 4
Move to Chuzenji Onsen for waterfall and lakeside visits, then stay near the lake.
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Chuzenji Onsen terminal
Buy the JPY 2,300 Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass at the tourist centre to start using that day. Choose a morning bus allowing time to queue for tickets. Take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen from Tobu-Nikko to Chuzenji-onsen · 中禅寺温泉 (26). Boarding point 2A was in use at the time checked. Allow for foliage-season traffic.
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Kegon Falls viewing platform
Follow Kegon Falls signs east from Chuzenji Onsen terminal for about five minutes to the lift entrance. Descend to the paid viewing platform. The adult return fare is JPY 600, with visitors served in arrival order.
Getting to Kegon Falls facilitiesKegon Falls tickets and opening hours
- Kegon Falls → Lakeside walk, then return to Chuzenji Onsen
After lunch, walk out and back along the public lakeside path from the large torii past Sunrise and Sunset piers. Do not board a boat.
The Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass started that day is valid through the next day.
Day 5
Visit British and Italian villas, then return to Asakusa.
- Large lakeside torii → British Embassy Villa Memorial Park entrance
Walk from the large torii along the road beside the southeastern lake and the Utagahama lakeshore towards the British villa. The official walking estimate of about 35 minutes starts at the terminal. Use the JPY 450 combined villa ticket to see exhibits about Ernest Satow and the international summer resort, then enjoy lake views from Level 2. Tea experiences cost extra.
Official lake and waterfall walking mapBritish Embassy Villa opening hours, tickets and walking directions
- British villa → Visit the Italian villa and return to Chuzenji Onsen
Walk along the lakeside to the Italian villa. Explore the main building and lake views, then the annexe’s international summer-resort history exhibition. Retrace the lakeside towards Chuzenji Onsen afterwards. Café orders cost extra.
Bus timetables, boarding points and faresBus stop 26B change noticeOfficial lake and waterfall walking mapItalian Embassy Villa opening hours and tickets
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Tobu-Nikko Station
Take YK towards JR Nikko from Chuzenji Onsen terminal’s station-bound boarding point and alight at Tobu-Nikko. Recorded station-bound point 26B differs from Yumoto-bound 26A. Check your date’s operator notices, signs on site and station-bound timetable. This is day two of the pass started yesterday.
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Asakusa Station
Board your reserved-seat Liberty Kegon towards Asakusa at Tobu-Nikko. Limited-express supplements vary with peak, regular and low seasons and booking conditions; recalculate for your travel date.
Bus timetables, boarding points and faresCurrent Tobu limited express timetable for NikkoLimited express supplementSeasonal fares
The calculation includes the JPY 450 two-villa ticket. Both villas close in December–March and at 16:00 in April and 11–30 November. Choose your return limited express allowing return walks and mountain-road congestion.
Costs included in the calculation: Tokyo–Utsunomiya JR JPY 2,090 + Utsunomiya–Nikko JR JPY 810 + Tobu-Nikko–Asakusa limited express JPY 3,250 + Oya day pass JPY 2,200 + World Heritage pass JPY 600 + Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass JPY 2,300 + Toshogu JPY 1,600 + Rinnoji Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin combined ticket JPY 900 + Kegon Falls lift JPY 600 + two-villa ticket JPY 450 = JPY 14,800.
Extra costs: Accommodation, meals, bathing tax, travel to your departure station, tea experiences, café orders, cruises and luggage-storage charges are extra.
These costs were calculated from prices checked on 8 October 2026. Return Tobu limited express uses a JPY 3,250 peak-season one-way reference. Use the Oya pass on day two, World Heritage pass on day three and Chuzenji Onsen pass on days four and five. Separate JPY 300 villa tickets are not added to the combined ticket. Check seasonal fares, booking conditions, admission and discounts for your travel dates.
Limited express supplementSeasonal faresRevised JR fare tableNikko tourism organisation's 2026 revised fare table: JR Nikko Line JPY 810Oya pass coverage and sales hoursBus timetables, boarding points and faresBus pass salesToshogu admission ticketsRinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlinesKegon Falls tickets and opening hoursBritish Embassy Villa opening hours, tickets and walking directionsItalian Embassy Villa opening hours and tickets
Take time for Nikko temples, lake nature and villas
Stay two nights near Nikko’s stations and two at Chuzenji Onsen for more time by the lake. Start and end in Asakusa, give Toshogu and Rinnoji a day each, then visit the waterfall, both villas and Natural Science Museum on separate days. The villas close from December to March, so this itinerary cannot be followed unchanged in winter.
Day 1
Visit Toshogu and spend the first night near Nikko Station.
- Asakusa Station → Tobu-Nikko Station · station tourist centre
Take a reserved-seat Liberty Kegon from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko and alight there. Buy that day’s JPY 600 World Heritage bus pass at the station tourist centre.
Current Tobu limited express timetable for NikkoBus pass sales
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Toshogu entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
Take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen from Tobu-Nikko to Nishisando Iriguchi · 西参道入口 (9). Boarding point 2A was in use at the time checked; check the operator’s information for your travel date and signs on site. Follow signs for the western and main approaches for the officially listed approximately ten-minute walk to Toshogu’s entrance, with admission time extra.
Bus timetables, boarding points and faresTobu Bus routes and stops
- Toshogu → Visit Toshogu, then have lunch
Visit Toshogu with the JPY 1,600 single-site ticket, then have lunch and a rest. Retrace the main and western approaches to Nishisando Iriguchi (9)’s station-bound stop.
- Nishisando Iriguchi → Tobu-Nikko Station
Board C or YK towards JR Nikko at Nishisando Iriguchi (9)’s station-bound side and alight at Tobu-Nikko. Do not continue to the JR Nikko terminus.
The World Heritage day pass cannot be reused the next day.
Day 2
Visit Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin, then stay another night near Nikko Station.
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Sanbutsudo entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
Buy a new JPY 600 World Heritage pass for that day. Take C towards Chuzenji Onsen from Tobu-Nikko to Nishisando Iriguchi (9). Boarding point 2C was in use at the time checked; check the operator’s information for your travel date and signs on site. Follow western and main approaches towards Sanbutsudo and allow time to reach the entrance and queue for admission.
Rinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlinesRinnoji visiting routeBus pass salesBus timetables, boarding points and fares
- Sanbutsudo entrance → Visit Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin
Buy the JPY 900 Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin combined ticket in the morning. Visit Sanbutsudo, then follow the official map on foot to Taiyuin. April–October sales close at 14:30; check your season’s cut-off. On restricted Sanbutsudo dates, adjust to available hours. See the attraction guide and temple event notices for dated restrictions.
Rinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlinesRinnoji visiting route
- Nishisando Iriguchi (9) · station-bound boarding point → Tobu-Nikko Station
After Taiyuin, have lunch in Sannai and walk to Nishisando Iriguchi (9)’s station-bound boarding point. Take C or YK towards JR Nikko and alight at Tobu-Nikko, before the JR Nikko terminus.
Buy a new World Heritage pass for day two. Check Rinnoji combined-ticket sales cut-offs.
Day 3
Move to Chuzenji Onsen for waterfall and public lakeside visits, then stay near the lake.
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Chuzenji Onsen terminal
Take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen from Tobu-Nikko to Chuzenji-onsen · 中禅寺温泉 (26). Boarding point 2A was in use at the time checked. Allow for foliage-season traffic. The recorded ordinary adult one-way fare is JPY 1,250. Return is two days later, so one two-day pass does not cover both directions.
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Kegon Falls viewing platform
Follow Kegon Falls signs east from Chuzenji Onsen terminal for about five minutes to the lift entrance. Descend to the paid viewing platform. The adult return fare is JPY 600, with visitors served in arrival order.
Getting to Kegon Falls facilitiesKegon Falls tickets and opening hours
- Kegon Falls → Lakeside walk, then return to Chuzenji Onsen
After lunch, walk out and back along the public lakeside path from the large torii past Sunrise and Sunset piers. Do not board a boat.
Your return is two days later, outside the validity of one Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass. The calculation includes two ordinary JPY 1,250 one-way fares.
Day 4
Walk to British and Italian lakeside villas. Stay another night near the lake.
- Large lakeside torii → British villa exhibitions and lake views
Follow the road beside the southeastern lake and the Utagahama lakeshore towards the British villa. The combined villa ticket costs JPY 450. See exhibits about Ernest Satow and the international summer resort, then enjoy lake views from Level 2. Tea experiences cost extra.
Official lake and waterfall walking mapBritish Embassy Villa opening hours, tickets and walking directions
- British villa → Visit the Italian villa and return to Chuzenji Onsen
Follow the lakeside to the Italian villa. Explore the main building and lake views, then the annexe’s international summer-resort history exhibition. Return towards Chuzenji Onsen afterwards. Café orders cost extra.
Official lake and waterfall walking mapItalian Embassy Villa opening hours and tickets
Villas close December–March and at 16:00 in April and 11–30 November. Shorten visits if lakeside walking is difficult that day.
Day 5
Visit the natural science museum, descend by mountain-road bus and return to Asakusa.
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Nikko Natural Science Museum visit
Visit Nikko Natural Science Museum beside Chuzenji Onsen terminal; the official walk from the terminal is one minute. Adult admission is JPY 510. Nature exhibits cover water flows, wetlands and living things, while history exhibits trace Oku-Nikko’s development as an international summer resort. These displays offer a different visit from the villa buildings.
- Nikko Natural Science Museum → Tobu-Nikko Station · board at Chuzenji Onsen terminal
Take YK towards JR Nikko from Chuzenji Onsen terminal’s station-bound boarding point and alight at Tobu-Nikko. Recorded station-bound point 26B differs from Yumoto-bound 26A. Check your date’s operator notices, signs on site and station-bound timetable. The recorded ordinary adult one-way fare is JPY 1,250. Leave well ahead of your return train to allow mountain-road congestion.
Bus timetables, boarding points and faresBus stop 26B change notice
- Tobu-Nikko Station → Asakusa Station
Board your reserved-seat Liberty Kegon towards Asakusa at Tobu-Nikko. Recalculate the limited-express supplement for your actual date’s season.
Bus timetables, boarding points and faresCurrent Tobu limited express timetable for NikkoLimited express supplementSeasonal fares
The natural science museum’s winter hours and Monday closures differ from summer. Allow time for possible mountain-road bus delays after visiting before your return limited express.
Costs included in the calculation: Outbound Tobu limited express JPY 3,050 + return JPY 3,250 + two JPY 600 World Heritage passes + two ordinary JPY 1,250 lake-bus fares + Toshogu JPY 1,600 + Rinnoji Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin combined ticket JPY 900 + Kegon Falls lift JPY 600 + two-villa ticket JPY 450 + Nikko Natural Science Museum JPY 510 = JPY 14,060.
Extra costs: Accommodation, meals, bathing tax, travel to Asakusa Station, tea experiences, café orders, cruises and luggage-storage charges are extra.
These costs were calculated from prices checked on 8 October 2026. Outbound Tobu uses a JPY 3,050 regular-season reference and return a JPY 3,250 peak-season reference. Day-three ascent and day-five descent span three days; one Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass cannot cover both. Walk on the middle day. Check seasonal fares, booking conditions, admission and discounts for your travel dates.
Limited express supplementSeasonal faresBus timetables, boarding points and faresBus pass salesToshogu admission ticketsRinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlinesKegon Falls tickets and opening hoursBritish Embassy Villa opening hours, tickets and walking directionsItalian Embassy Villa opening hours and ticketsNatural Science Museum prices, opening hours and access
Frequently asked questions
Can one Chuzenji two-day pass cover a return trip with two nights at the lake?
B's outbound and return journeys span three days, so a single two-day pass cannot cover both. The budget uses JPY 1,250 for each one-way trip. A goes up on day four and returns on day five, so a Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass starting on day four covers both days.
Official sources and check dates
- Limited express supplement ·
- Seasonal fares ·
- Bus timetables, boarding points and fares ·
- Bus pass sales ·
- Rinnoji visiting route ·
- Revised JR fare table ·
- Oya pass coverage and sales hours ·
- Outbound bus stop 6 and weekday timetable ·
- Return weekday timetable ·
- Getting to Gyoza Street ·
- City tourism organisation's food walking route ·
- Kirasse Main Store opening hours ·
- Getting to Kegon Falls facilities ·
- Kegon Falls tickets and opening hours ·
- Official lake and waterfall walking map ·
- Bus stop 26B change notice ·
- British Embassy Villa opening hours, tickets and walking directions ·
- Rinnoji tickets, prices and seasonal admission deadlines ·
- Italian Embassy Villa opening hours and tickets ·
- Natural Science Museum prices, opening hours and access ·
- Toshogu admission tickets ·
- Tobu Bus routes and stops ·
- Prices, access and visitor restrictions ·
- Nikko tourism organisation's 2026 revised fare table: JR Nikko Line JPY 810 ·
- Current JR station timetables: select the month and operating date ·
- Kanto Bus current route and timetable selection ·
- Tobu NIKKO PASS ALL AREA coverage, four-day validity and exclusions ·
- Current Tobu limited express timetable for Nikko ·
- Toshogu's Yomeimon Gate, Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat ·