Four days in Tochigi: stay beside the lake or visit both cities?
For a lakeside night, stay two nights near Nikko Station first, then move to Chuzenji Onsen. Visit the British villa on the final day before descending by bus. For Oya’s quarry and gyoza, stay one night in Utsunomiya and two in Nikko with a waterfall and lake day trip. Villa routes need changing during December–March winter closure.
Choose a 3 nights, 4 days itinerary
Visit the temples, then spend a night beside the lake
Stay two nights near Nikko Station, then one at Chuzenji Onsen to enjoy the lake in the evening and morning. Travel from and back to Asakusa, visiting temples first, then the waterfall and British villa on separate days. The villa closes December–March, so change this route if travelling in winter.
Visit the temples, then spend a night beside the lake →3 nights, 4 days BGive Oya, gyoza, the lake and temples a day each
Stay one night in Utsunomiya and two near Nikko Station to visit Oya’s quarry, eat gyoza, and explore Nikko’s temples and lake. Start at Tokyo Station and return to Asakusa. Visit the waterfall and lake on a day trip from Nikko; on the final day, visit only Sanbutsudo and Toshogu.
Give Oya, gyoza, the lake and temples a day each →Visit the temples, then spend a night beside the lake
Stay two nights near Nikko Station, then one at Chuzenji Onsen to enjoy the lake in the evening and morning. Travel from and back to Asakusa, visiting temples first, then the waterfall and British villa on separate days. The villa closes December–March, so change this route if travelling in winter.
Day 1
Visit Toshogu and spend your first night near Nikko Station.
- Asakusa Station → Tobu-nikko Station · station tourist centre
Take a reserved-seat Liberty Kegon limited express from Asakusa to Tobu-nikko and alight there. Buy that day’s JPY 600 World Heritage bus pass at the station tourist centre.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Toshogu entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
From Tobu-nikko, take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen to Nishisando Iriguchi · 西参道入口 (9). Stand 2A was used when checked; confirm operator 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.
- Toshogu → Visit Toshogu and have lunch
Visit with the JPY 1,600 Toshogu-only ticket, then have lunch and rest. Retrace Omotesando and Nishisando to the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (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.
Check Toshogu’s seasonal admission deadline. Stay near Nikko Station rather than moving to the lake today.
Day 2
Visit Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin, then return to the Nikko station area.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Sanbutsudo entrance · alight at Nishisando Iriguchi
Buy a new JPY 600 World Heritage bus pass for today. Take C towards Chuzenji Onsen from Tobu-nikko to Nishisando Iriguchi (9). Stand 2C was used when checked; confirm operator guidance for your travel date and signs. Follow Nishisando and Omotesando paths towards Sanbutsudo, allowing time for the entrance walk and ticket queues.
Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesRinnoji walking routeBus-pass salesBus timetable, stands and fares
- Sanbutsudo entrance → Visit Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin
Buy the JPY 900 Sanbutsudo and Taiyuin combination ticket in the morning. Visit Sanbutsudo, then walk to Taiyuin following the official map. April–October combination-ticket sales end at 14:30; check your season’s deadline. On restricted dates, adjust to available hours; see attraction guidance and temple event notices.
Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesRinnoji walking route
- Nishisando Iriguchi → Tobu-nikko Station
After lunch, take C or YK towards JR Nikko Station from the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9) and alight at Tobu-nikko. Do not stay on to the JR Nikko terminus.
Combination-ticket sales for both sites end earlier than ordinary admission.
Day 3
Move to Chuzenji Onsen, visit the waterfall and lakeshore, and stay by the lake from today.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Chuzenji Onsen terminal
Buy the JPY 2,300 Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass at the tourist centre, starting today. Choose a morning bus allowing purchase queues. From Tobu-nikko, take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen to Chuzenji-onsen · 中禅寺温泉 (26). Stand 2A was used when checked. Allow autumn-foliage traffic delays.
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Visit Kegon Falls’ viewing platform
Follow eastward Kegon Falls signs from the terminal about five minutes to the lift entrance. Descend to the paid viewing platform. Adult return admission is JPY 600, with entry first come first served.
- Kegon Falls → Walk along the lakeshore and return to Chuzenji Onsen
After lunch, walk out and back along the public shore path from the large torii past Sunrise Pier and Sunset Pier. No boat ride is included.
Start the Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass today and use it for the bus down to Nikko tomorrow. Allow for autumn-foliage traffic delays on the mountain road.
Day 4
Explore the British villa’s displays and lake views, then return to Asakusa.
- Large lakeside torii → British Embassy Villa Memorial Park entrance
From the large torii, follow the lake’s southeastern road and Utagahama shore towards the British villa. The official walking reference is about 35 minutes from Chuzenji Onsen terminal.
Official lake and waterfall walking mapBritish villa operation, tickets and walking access
- British villa entrance → Visit the lakeside villa
Use the JPY 300 British-villa ticket to explore displays about Ernest Satow and the international summer resort’s history, then enjoy lake views from the second floor. Retrace the shore path towards Chuzenji Onsen. The Italian villa and tea experience are excluded.
Official lake and waterfall walking mapBritish villa operation, tickets and walking access
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Tobu-nikko Station
Take YK towards JR Nikko Station from Chuzenji Onsen terminal’s station-bound stand and alight at Tobu-nikko. The stand was 26B when checked, distinct from Yumoto-bound 26A. Confirm notices for your travel date, signs and station-bound timetable. Today is the second day of yesterday’s Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass.
Bus-pass salesBus timetable, stands and faresStand 26B change notice
- Tobu-nikko Station → Asakusa Station
Take your reserved Asakusa-bound Liberty Kegon limited express from Tobu-nikko. Lake buses can be delayed, so choose a train that leaves enough time after you reach the station.
Bus timetable, stands and faresCurrent Tobu Nikko limited-express timetable
The villa closes December–March and closes at 16:00 in April and 11–30 November. Allow the shore walk in both directions and bus traffic delays when choosing your return limited express.
Included in the calculation: Tobu limited-express return JPY 6,100 + World Heritage bus passes JPY 600 × 2 for the first two days + Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass JPY 2,300 + Toshogu JPY 1,600 + Rinnoji combination JPY 900 + Kegon Falls lift JPY 600 + British villa JPY 300 = JPY 13,000.
Extra costs: Accommodation, meals, bathing tax, travel to Asakusa Station, cruises, tea experience, extra visits such as the Italian villa, activities and luggage storage cost extra.
Calculated using rates checked on 2026-10-08. The Tobu reference is JPY 3,050 one way for a regular-season paper fare and reserved-seat limited-express supplement. Check season, booking conditions, fares, admission and discounts for your travel date.
The lakeshore walk to the villa is longer than the short waterfall-area walk. In rain or local restrictions, shorten the villa visit and prioritise a bus with ample time for your reserved return train.
Limited-express supplementsSeasonal faresBus timetable, stands and faresBus-pass salesToshogu admission ticketsRinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesKegon ticket types and operationBritish villa operation, tickets and walking access
Give Oya, gyoza, the lake and temples a day each
Stay one night in Utsunomiya and two near Nikko Station to visit Oya’s quarry, eat gyoza, and explore Nikko’s temples and lake. Start at Tokyo Station and return to Asakusa. Visit the waterfall and lake on a day trip from Nikko; on the final day, visit only Sanbutsudo and Toshogu.
Day 1
Arrive in Utsunomiya and visit Oya History Museum.
- Tokyo Station → Shiryokan Iriguchi bus stop · change at JR Utsunomiya Station
Take a Utsunomiya-bound ordinary Utsunomiya Line train from Tokyo Station and alight at Utsunomiya. Ordinary carriages are used, excluding Green Car. Buy the JPY 2,200 Oya sightseeing one-day pass at the station tourist desk. From 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), distinguishing route 47 towards Shin-Kanuma. Allow the official 30-minute ride plus traffic delays.
Oya pass inclusions and sales hoursFees, access and use restrictionsOutward stand 6 weekday timetableCurrent JR station timetables: select month and operating dateKanto bus current route and timetable selection
- Shiryokan Iriguchi bus stop → Explore the underground quarry and have lunch
Walk about five minutes from the stop to the museum. Visit the underground quarry displays, then have lunch above ground.
Fees, access and use restrictionsOya pass inclusions and sales hours
- 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
Use the Oya pass today only. Check the museum’s seasonal operation.
Day 2
Eat gyoza, then take the JR Nikko Line to stay in Nikko.
- JR Utsunomiya Station west side → Walk along Gyoza Street
Walk about 15 minutes from the JR station’s west side to Gyoza Street and explore signs and lanes. Check individual opening hours.
Gyoza Street accessCity tourism organisation’s food walking route
- Gyoza Street → Eat gyoza at Kirasse Main Store
Order and compare gyoza in Kirasse Main Store’s daily rotating area, on basement level 1 of MEGA Don Quijote La Park. Hours were 11:00–21:00 daily, last orders 20:30, when checked; distinguish the five permanent stalls’ weekday closures. Finish with time to return for your Nikko train.
- 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 → JR Nikko Station
Take the JR Nikko Line from Utsunomiya towards Nikko and alight at JR Nikko. Choose a train reaching Nikko, distinguishing Kanuma-terminating services.
Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date
After eating in the city, choose a JR train reaching Nikko, distinguishing Kanuma-terminating services.
Day 3
Visit Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji for the day, then return to the Nikko station area.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Chuzenji Onsen terminal
Buy the JPY 2,300 Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass at the tourist centre, starting today. From Tobu-nikko, take YK towards Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen to Chuzenji-onsen · 中禅寺温泉 (26). Stand 2A was used when checked. Allow autumn-foliage traffic delays.
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Visit Kegon Falls’ viewing platform
Follow the eastward Kegon Falls signs from the terminal about five minutes to the lift ticket entrance. Descend by lift to the paid viewing platform. Adult return admission is JPY 600; visits are first come first served without reservations, so allow queues.
- Kegon Falls → Have lunch and walk along Lake Chuzenji’s public shore
After lunch, walk out and back along the public shore by the large torii, Sunrise Pier and Sunset Pier. Boat rides and paid temple visits are excluded.
- Chuzenji Onsen terminal → Tobu-nikko Station
Take YK towards JR Nikko Station from Chuzenji Onsen terminal’s station-bound stand and alight at Tobu-nikko. The stand was 26B when checked, distinct from Yumoto-bound 26A. Confirm notices for your travel date, signs and station-bound timetable. No immediate Tokyo-bound train connection follows today’s descent.
Use the Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass today and tomorrow. Stay in Nikko after descending from the lake today.
Day 4
Visit Sanbutsudo and Toshogu, then return to Asakusa. Taiyuin is excluded.
- Tobu-nikko Station → Visit Rinnoji’s Sanbutsudo
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 the entrance walk and ticket queues. Use the JPY 400 Sanbutsudo-only ticket, excluding the Taiyuin combination. Adjust restricted-day visits to available hours; see attraction guidance and temple event notices.
Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesBus timetable, stands and faresRinnoji walking route
- Sanbutsudo → Walk from Sanbutsudo to Toshogu and visit
Walk along Omotesando from Sanbutsudo to Toshogu’s entrance. Visit with the JPY 1,600 Toshogu-only ticket; Taiyuin and the treasure hall are excluded.
Toshogu admission ticketsRinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesRinnoji walking routeBus-pass salesTobu bus routes and stops
- 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. Start at Tokyo Station and finish at Asakusa, so do not buy a Tokyo Station return ticket.
This option uses JPY 400 Sanbutsudo admission and JPY 1,600 Toshogu admission. Yesterday’s bus pass also covers today’s temple-area journeys.
Included in the calculation: JR Tokyo–Utsunomiya JPY 2,090 + JR Utsunomiya–Nikko JPY 810 + Tobu-nikko–Asakusa limited express JPY 3,050 + Oya pass JPY 2,200 + Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass JPY 2,300 + Kegon Falls lift JPY 600 + Sanbutsudo JPY 400 + Toshogu JPY 1,600 = JPY 13,050.
Extra costs: Accommodation, gyoza and other meals, travel to the starting station, Green Car, other temples, cruises and luggage storage cost extra.
Calculated using rates checked on 2026-10-08. The Tobu limited-express reference is JPY 3,050 one way in the regular season. Use the Chuzenji Onsen pass on days three and four; no extra JPY 600 temple-area bus pass is added on day four. Start at Tokyo Station and return to Asakusa. Check season, booking conditions, fares, admission and discounts for your travel date.
Limited-express supplementsSeasonal faresJR revised fare tableNikko tourism organisation’s 2026 revised fees · JR Nikko Line JPY 810Oya pass inclusions and sales hoursBus timetable, stands and faresBus-pass salesToshogu admission ticketsRinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlinesKegon ticket types and operation
Frequently asked questions
Do I return to Tokyo Station after Utsunomiya and Nikko?
The option with one night in Utsunomiya and two in Nikko starts by JR from Tokyo Station and returns by limited express from Tobu-nikko to Asakusa. Departure and return stations differ. Alight at Tobu-nikko even from a JR Nikko-bound temple bus to catch the limited express.
Current JR station timetables: select month and operating dateBus timetable, stands and faresCurrent Tobu Nikko limited-express timetable
When should I start the Chuzenji Onsen two-day pass for an overnight lake stay?
After two Nikko nights, start the pass on day three’s ascent and use it through day four’s descent. Temple buses on days one and two each require a World Heritage day pass. The option with one night in Utsunomiya and two in Nikko uses Chuzenji Onsen on day three’s lake return and day four’s Sannai temple buses.
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 ·
- Kegon facility access ·
- Kegon ticket types and operation ·
- Official lake and waterfall walking map ·
- Stand 26B change notice ·
- British villa operation, tickets and walking access ·
- Rinnoji tickets, fees and seasonal deadlines ·
- Toshogu admission tickets ·
- Tobu bus routes and stops ·
- Fees, access and use restrictions ·
- Nikko tourism organisation’s 2026 revised fees · JR Nikko Line JPY 810 ·
- Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date ·
- Kanto bus current route and timetable selection ·
- Tobu NIKKO PASS ALL AREA coverage, four-day validity and exclusions ·
- JR EAST Tokyo Wide Pass three-day validity, coverage and standalone Tobu limited-express exclusion ·
- Current Tobu Nikko limited-express timetable ·