Two days in Tochigi: Nikko’s temples or Oya and gyoza?
Stay one night in Nikko to give Toshogu and Rinnoji a day each. For the quarry and food, visit Oya History Museum in Utsunomiya, then Gyoza Street the next day. Nikko routes return to Asakusa; Utsunomiya routes return to Tokyo Station.
Choose a 1 night, 2 days itinerary
Give Nikko’s Toshogu and Rinnoji a day each
Stay one night in Nikko to explore Toshogu’s carvings and Rinnoji’s wooden halls and mausoleum at leisure. Travel from and back to Asakusa, visiting Toshogu on day one and Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin on day two. Leaving the waterfall and lake for another trip gives you time to rest between visits.
Give Nikko’s Toshogu and Rinnoji a day each →1 night, 2 days BExplore Oya History Museum and try Utsunomiya gyoza
Stay one night in Utsunomiya to explore the underground quarry, then eat gyoza the following day. Travel from and back to Tokyo Station, visiting Oya History Museum on day one and Gyoza Street and Kirasse Main Store on day two. Travel to Nikko is excluded.
Explore Oya History Museum and try Utsunomiya gyoza →Give Nikko’s Toshogu and Rinnoji a day each
Stay one night in Nikko to explore Toshogu’s carvings and Rinnoji’s wooden halls and mausoleum at leisure. Travel from and back to Asakusa, visiting Toshogu on day one and Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin on day two. Leaving the waterfall and lake for another trip gives you time to rest between visits.
Day 1
Explore Toshogu’s carvings and architecture, then stay near Nikko Station.
- Asakusa Station → Tobu-nikko Station
Take a reserved-seat Liberty Kegon limited express from Asakusa to Tobu-nikko and get off there.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Toshogu entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
Buy that day’s World Heritage bus pass at the station tourist centre, open 08:20–16:20. From Tobu-nikko, take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen and alight at Nishisando Iriguchi · 西参道入口 (9). Stand 2A was used when checked; confirm the operator’s guidance for your travel date and signs. Follow Nishisando and Omotesando signs to Toshogu’s entrance, allowing the official ten-minute walk plus ticketing time.
Bus-pass salesBus timetable, stands and faresToshogu admission ticketsRinnoji walking routeTobu bus routes and stops
- Toshogu entrance → Explore Toshogu’s carvings and architecture
Use the JPY 1,600 Toshogu-only ticket to see Yomeimon and the Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat carvings. April–October hours are 09:00–17:00, with admission until 16:30; winter hours are shorter. Check your date. The museum combination ticket is excluded from the calculation.
Toshogu admission ticketsToshogu’s Yomeimon, Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat
- Toshogu → Have lunch in Sannai and walk to the bus stop
Have lunch and rest near Sannai. Retrace Omotesando and Nishisando from the entrance to the station-bound side of stop 9.
- Nishisando Iriguchi → Tobu-nikko Station
From the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9), take C or YK towards JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-nikko. Do not stay on to the JR Nikko terminus.
Toshogu’s admission deadline varies by season. If you arrive late, consider visiting the following day.
Day 2
Visit Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin, then return to Asakusa. Allow for walking between their separate entrances.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Sanbutsudo entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
Buy a new one-day pass at the station tourist centre for day two; yesterday’s pass is invalid. Take C towards Chuzenji Onsen from Tobu-nikko to Nishisando Iriguchi (9). Stand 2C was used when checked; confirm guidance for your travel date and signs. Follow Nishisando and Omotesando paths towards Sanbutsudo, allowing for the entrance walk and ticket queues.
Bus-pass salesRinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesRinnoji walking routeBus timetable, stands and fares
- Sanbutsudo entrance → Buy the combination ticket and visit Sanbutsudo
Buy the JPY 900 Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin combination ticket in the morning and visit Sanbutsudo. April–October combination-ticket sales end at 14:30, earlier than ordinary admission. On restricted dates, adjust to available visiting hours; see the attraction guidance and temple event notices.
- Sanbutsudo → Walk from Sanbutsudo to Taiyuin and visit
Follow the official temple map from Sanbutsudo through Omotesando and Nishisando to Taiyuin, then visit. The treasure hall and Shoyoen are excluded from this ticket.
Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesRinnoji walking route
- Taiyuin → Have lunch and walk to the station-bound bus stop
After lunch, descend Nishisando to the station-bound side of stop 9. Allow time for your meal, the walk and waiting for the bus.
- Nishisando Iriguchi → Tobu-nikko Station
From the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9), take C or YK towards JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-nikko. Do not stay on to the JR Nikko terminus.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Asakusa Station
Take your reserved Asakusa-bound Liberty Kegon limited express from Tobu-nikko. Check the departure board for the platform.
Rinnoji combination-ticket sales end at 14:30 in April–October and 13:30 in November–March. Plan the station-bound bus and Asakusa limited express after your visit.
Included in the calculation: Tobu limited-express return JPY 6,100 + World Heritage one-day bus pass JPY 600 × 2 + Toshogu JPY 1,600 + Rinnoji Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin combination JPY 900 = JPY 9,800.
Extra costs: Accommodation, meals, travel to Asakusa Station, flights, treasure hall, prayers, special visits and luggage storage cost extra.
Calculated using rates checked on 2026-10-08. Tobu’s JPY 3,050 one-way reference combines a JPY 1,400 ordinary paper ticket and JPY 1,650 regular-season Liberty reserved-seat supplement. The World Heritage bus pass covers C and YK buses in Sannai, excluding temple admission. Check season, booking conditions, fares, admission and discounts for your travel date.
Limited-express supplementsSeasonal faresBus timetable, stands and faresBus-pass salesToshogu admission ticketsRinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlines
Explore Oya History Museum and try Utsunomiya gyoza
Stay one night in Utsunomiya to explore the underground quarry, then eat gyoza the following day. Travel from and back to Tokyo Station, visiting Oya History Museum on day one and Gyoza Street and Kirasse Main Store on day two. Travel to Nikko is excluded.
Day 1
Arrive in Utsunomiya, explore Oya’s underground stone quarry, then return to Utsunomiya for the night.
- Tokyo Station → JR Utsunomiya Station west side
Take a Utsunomiya-bound ordinary train on the Utsunomiya Line from Tokyo Station and alight at Utsunomiya. The calculation uses ordinary carriages, excluding Green Car travel.
Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date
- JR Utsunomiya Station → Shiryokan Iriguchi bus stop · Oya History Museum
Buy the JPY 2,200 Oya sightseeing one-day pass at the tourist information desk beside the ordinary-train ticket gates. Sales are 09:00–14:50, with separate closures around New Year and other dates. At west-side stand 6, take route 45 towards Tateiwa via Oya (大谷経由立岩) to Shiryokan Iriguchi (資料館入口). Distinguish route 47 towards Shin-Kanuma. Allow the official 30-minute ride plus traffic delays, then a five-minute walk to the museum.
Oya pass inclusions and sales hoursFees, access and use restrictionsOutward stand 6 weekday timetableKanto bus current route and timetable selection
- Shiryokan Iriguchi bus stop → Visit the underground quarry
Visit Oya History Museum. April–November hours are 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30; check your date’s operation, including winter Tuesday closures. Admission is included in the Oya pass. Ordinary entry uses stairs and does not permit wheelchairs or pushchairs. Paid golf-cart assistance requires advance booking on available weekdays; same-day requests are not accepted.
Oya pass inclusions and sales hoursFees, access and use restrictions
- Oya History Museum above-ground area → Have lunch and walk to the station-bound bus stop
Check your chosen restaurant’s actual-date hours and menu first. Have lunch and rest above ground, then return to Shiryokan Iriguchi’s Utsunomiya Station-bound stop.
Oya pass inclusions and sales hoursFees, access and use restrictionsKanto bus current route and timetable selection
- Shiryokan Iriguchi bus 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
Oya pass sales were 09:00–14:50 when checked. Confirm winter museum closures, stair-access restrictions, the outward timetable for route 45 and the return timetable for route 01.
Day 2
Walk along Gyoza Street and eat at Kirasse Main Store, then return to Tokyo Station.
- JR Utsunomiya Station west side → Walk along Gyoza Street
From JR Utsunomiya’s west side, follow the main road over Miyanohashi to Gyoza Street. The prefectural tourism guide gives about 15 minutes from the station. Explore signs and lanes and check individual shops’ hours. Walk today; yesterday’s Oya pass is not used.
Gyoza Street accessCity tourism organisation’s food walking route
- Gyoza Street → Eat gyoza at Kirasse Main Store
Go to Kirasse Main Store · 来らっせ本店 in central Babadori: 馬場通り2-3-12, basement level 1 of MEGA Don Quijote La Park Utsunomiya. From 11:00, compare gyoza in the daily rotating-stall area (日替わり店舗). This differs from the Paseo outlet’s frozen-gyoza sales. Finish with time to walk back to the station.
- Kirasse Main Store → JR Utsunomiya Station west exit
After eating, return to street level and walk back to JR Utsunomiya Station’s west exit.
City tourism organisation’s food walking routeKirasse Main Store operation
- JR Utsunomiya Station → Tokyo Station
Choose an ordinary train from Utsunomiya via Tokyo Station and alight there. Confirm it stops at Tokyo, distinguishing services via Shinjuku.
Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date
Kirasse’s daily rotating area and five permanent stalls have different operating conditions. If meal queues are long, shorten the street walk to catch your return train.
Included in the calculation: JR Tokyo–Utsunomiya ordinary-train return JPY 4,180 + Oya sightseeing one-day pass JPY 2,200 = JPY 6,380.
Extra costs: Accommodation, gyoza and other meals, travel to Tokyo Station, Green Car, taxis, flights, extra attractions and luggage storage cost extra.
Calculated using rates checked on 2026-10-08. The JR one-way reference is JPY 2,090 for an ordinary-carriage paper ticket. Use the Oya pass for day-one buses and museum admission; its included Oyaji admission is unused here. Museum admission is not added again, and day two is on foot. Check season, booking conditions, fares, admission and discounts for your travel date.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Rinnoji combination ticket include Toshogu?
The JPY 900 combination covers Rinnoji’s Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin. Buy a separate Toshogu ticket.
Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesToshogu admission tickets
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Limited-express supplements ·
- Seasonal fares ·
- Bus timetable, stands and fares ·
- Bus-pass sales ·
- Rinnoji walking route ·
- JR revised fare table ·
- Oya pass inclusions and sales hours ·
- Outward stand 6 weekday timetable ·
- Return weekday timetable ·
- Gyoza Street access ·
- City tourism organisation’s food walking route ·
- Kirasse Main Store operation ·
- Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlines ·
- Toshogu admission tickets ·
- Tobu bus routes and stops ·
- Fees, access and use restrictions ·
- Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date ·
- Kanto bus current route and timetable selection ·
- Current Tobu Nikko limited-express timetable ·
- Toshogu’s Yomeimon, Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat ·