Four nights in Tochigi: connect both cities or spend two by the lake?

Take a regular Utsunomiya Line train from Tokyo Station toward Utsunomiya and get off there. Use an ordinary car, not a Green Car. Gyoza Street is officially listed as about a 15-minute walk from the station’s west side. Explore its signs and lanes.

Gyoza Street access2026-10-08City tourism walking food itinerary2026-10-08Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date2026-10-08

Compare gyoza in Kirasse Main Store’s rotating daily vendor area in the MEGA basement. Its operating conditions differ from the permanent shops, so check the hours of your chosen area.

Kirasse main store operations2026-10-09

Buy today’s ¥2,200 Oya sightseeing one-day ticket at the station tourist information office. From Utsunomiya Station’s west-side stop 6, take route 45 for Tateiwa via Oya (大谷経由立岩) and get off at Shiryokan Iriguchi · 資料館入口. Distinguish it from route 47 to Shin-Kanuma. The official ride estimate is about 30 minutes; allow for traffic.

Oya ticket inclusions and sales hours2026-10-08Fees, access, and entry restrictions2026-10-09Outbound route 6 weekday timetable2026-10-08Kanto Transportation current route and timetable selection2026-10-08

Walk about five minutes from the stop to the museum. Explore the underground quarry exhibits, then have lunch above ground.

Fees, access, and entry restrictions2026-10-09Oya ticket inclusions and sales hours2026-10-08

Take route 01 for Utsunomiya Station from the station-bound side of Shiryokan Iriguchi stop.

Weekday return timetable2026-10-08Kanto Transportation current route and timetable selection2026-10-08

Choose a JR Nikko Line train from Utsunomiya toward Nikko that arrives at JR Nikko Station in the morning, distinguishing it from services terminating at Kanuma. Walk along National Route 119 from JR Nikko to Tobu-Nikko and buy the ¥600 World Heritage bus ticket at the tourist center. Buy the Rinnoji combined ticket and visit first, followed by lunch and Toshogu.

Bus ticket sales2026-10-09Current JR station timetables: select month and operating date2026-10-08Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

From Tobu-Nikko Station, take a C bus to Chuzenji Onsen and get off at Nishisando Iriguchi (9). The boarding stop was 2C at the checked date; check on-site information for your date. Follow the route from Nishisando and Omotesando to Sanbutsudo’s entrance.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08Rinnoji visitor route2026-10-08

Buy the ¥900 Sanbutsudo–Taiyuin combined ticket first. Sales end at 2:30 p.m. April–October and 1:30 p.m. November–March, earlier than regular admission. Visit Sanbutsudo, then walk to Taiyuin using the official temple map and visit. If time or stamina is limited, omit Taiyuin and recalculate ticket types and costs, or choose an itinerary spreading temples across two days. On Sanbutsudo restriction days, adjust to the available visiting hours. Find date-specific restrictions in attraction information and temple event notices.

Rinnoji tickets, prices, and seasonal admission cutoffs2026-10-09Rinnoji visitor route2026-10-08

Follow Nishisando and Omotesando to Toshogu and use the ¥1,600 Toshogu-only ticket to see Yomeimon and the Three Wise Monkeys and Sleeping Cat carvings. Fit lunch and rest between visits without missing Toshogu’s admission cutoff: 4:30 p.m. April–October and 3:30 p.m. November–March. After visiting, return to the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi.

Toshogu admission tickets2026-10-09Rinnoji visitor route2026-10-08Toshogu Yomeimon, Three Wise Monkeys, and Sleeping Cat2026-10-09

From the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9), take a C or YK service toward JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-Nikko rather than the JR Nikko terminus. If the three sites’ steps are difficult, omit Taiyuin or spread temple visits across two days.

Rinnoji tickets, prices, and seasonal admission cutoffs2026-10-09Rinnoji visitor route2026-10-08Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

At the station tourist center, buy the ¥2,300 Chuzenji Onsen two-day ticket starting today. Choose a morning bus allowing for the purchase queue. From Tobu-Nikko, take a YK service to Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen and get off at Chuzenji-onsen · 中禅寺温泉 (26). The boarding stop was 2A at the checked date. Allow for fall foliage-season traffic.

Bus ticket sales2026-10-09Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

From Chuzenji Onsen Terminal, follow signs east toward Kegon Falls for a roughly five-minute walk to the elevator entrance. Ride down to see the falls from the paid viewing platform. The adult round-trip price is ¥600; admission is first come, first served.

Kegon facility access2026-10-08Kegon ticket types and operations2026-10-09

After lunch, take an out-and-back walk along the public shore path from the large torii toward Sunrise Pier, then the front of Sunset Pier. No boat ride is included.

Official lake and waterfall walking map2026-10-08

From the large torii, follow the road southeast along the lake and the shore toward Utagahama to reach the British villa. The official walking estimate is about 35 minutes from the terminal. Use the ¥450 two-villa combined ticket for exhibits about Ernest Satow and the international summer resort’s history, and lake views from the second floor. The tea experience is excluded.

Official lake and waterfall walking map2026-10-08British villa operations, tickets, and walking access2026-10-09

Follow the shore path to the Italian villa. See the main building and lake views, followed by exhibits about the international summer resort’s history in the adjoining building. After visiting, retrace the same shore route toward Chuzenji Onsen. Café orders are separate.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08Stop 26B change notice2026-10-08Official lake and waterfall walking map2026-10-08Italian villa operations and tickets2026-10-09

At Chuzenji Onsen Terminal’s station-bound stop, take a YK service toward JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-Nikko. The station-bound stop was 26B at the checked date, distinct from Yumoto-bound 26A. Check your date’s operator notices, on-site signs, and station-bound timetable. This is the second day of the two-day ticket started yesterday.

Bus ticket sales2026-10-09Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

Board your reserved-seat Limited Express Revaty Kegon from Tobu-Nikko to Asakusa. Limited express charges vary with peak, regular, or low season and booking conditions, so recalculate for your date.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08Current Tobu limited express timetable toward Nikko2026-10-09Limited express charge2026-10-08Seasonal fares2026-10-08

Board the reserved-seat Limited Express Revaty Kegon from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko and get off there. Buy that day’s ¥600 World Heritage bus ticket at the station tourist center.

Current Tobu limited express timetable toward Nikko2026-10-09Bus ticket sales2026-10-09

From Tobu-Nikko, take a YK service to Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen and get off at Nishisando Iriguchi · 西参道入口 (9). The boarding stop was 2A at the checked date; recheck the operator’s information and on-site signs for your date. Follow Nishisando and Omotesando directions to Toshogu’s entrance, an officially listed walk of about 10 minutes, plus admission time.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08Tobu Bus routes and stops2026-10-08

Visit with the ¥1,600 Toshogu-only ticket, then have lunch and rest. Retrace Omotesando and Nishisando to the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9).

Toshogu admission tickets2026-10-09

At the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9), take a C or YK service toward JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-Nikko. Do not continue to the JR Nikko terminus.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

Buy a new ¥600 World Heritage bus ticket for today. From Tobu-Nikko, take a C service to Chuzenji Onsen and get off at Nishisando Iriguchi (9). The boarding stop was 2C at the checked date; recheck the operator’s information and on-site signs for your date. Follow the route from Nishisando and Omotesando to Sanbutsudo, allowing time for the entrance walk and admission queue.

Rinnoji tickets, prices, and seasonal admission cutoffs2026-10-09Rinnoji visitor route2026-10-08Bus ticket sales2026-10-09Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

In the morning, buy the ¥900 Sanbutsudo–Taiyuin combined ticket. Visit Sanbutsudo, then follow the official map to walk to Taiyuin and visit. April–October combined-ticket sales end at 2:30 p.m.; check the cutoff for your season. On Sanbutsudo restriction days, adjust to the available visiting hours. Find date-specific restrictions in attraction information and temple event notices.

Rinnoji tickets, prices, and seasonal admission cutoffs2026-10-09Rinnoji visitor route2026-10-08

After Taiyuin, have lunch in Sannai and walk to the station-bound side of Nishisando Iriguchi (9). Take a C or YK service toward JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-Nikko. Do not continue to the JR Nikko terminus.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

From Tobu-Nikko, take a YK service to Yumoto Onsen via Kotoku Onsen and get off at Chuzenji Onsen · 中禅寺温泉 (26). The boarding stop was 2A at the checked date. Allow for fall foliage traffic. The checked regular adult one-way fare is ¥1,250. You return two days later, so one two-day ticket cannot cover both rides.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08

From Chuzenji Onsen Terminal, follow signs east toward Kegon Falls for a roughly five-minute walk to the elevator entrance. Ride down to see the falls from the paid viewing platform. The adult round-trip price is ¥600; admission is first come, first served.

Kegon facility access2026-10-08Kegon ticket types and operations2026-10-09

After lunch, take an out-and-back walk along the public shore path from the large torii toward Sunrise Pier, then the front of Sunset Pier. No boat ride is included.

Official lake and waterfall walking map2026-10-08

Follow the road southeast along the lake and the Utagahama shore to the British villa. The two-villa ticket costs ¥450. See exhibits on Ernest Satow and the international summer resort’s history, then the lake view from the second floor. The tea experience is excluded.

Official lake and waterfall walking map2026-10-08British villa operations, tickets, and walking access2026-10-09

Follow the shore path to the Italian villa. See the main building and lake view, then the international summer resort history exhibits in the adjoining building. Return toward Chuzenji Onsen afterward. Café orders cost extra.

Official lake and waterfall walking map2026-10-08Italian villa operations and tickets2026-10-09

Go to Nikko Natural Science Museum beside Chuzenji Onsen Terminal, an officially listed one-minute walk. Adult admission is ¥510. The nature exhibits cover water flows, wetlands, and living organisms; the history exhibits cover the international summer resort’s development and Oku-Nikko’s past. They offer a different focus from the villa buildings.

Natural science museum fees, hours, and access2026-10-09

At Chuzenji Onsen Terminal’s station-bound boarding stop, take a YK service toward JR Nikko Station and get off at Tobu-Nikko. At the checked date this was stop 26B, distinct from Yumoto-bound 26A. Recheck operator notices, on-site signs, and the station-bound timetable for your date. The checked regular adult one-way fare is ¥1,250. Leave well before your booked return train to allow for mountain-road traffic.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08Stop 26B change notice2026-10-08

At Tobu-Nikko, board your reserved-seat Limited Express Revaty Kegon to Asakusa. Recalculate the limited-express supplement for your travel date’s season.

Bus timetable, stops, and fares2026-10-08Current Tobu limited express timetable toward Nikko2026-10-09Limited express charge2026-10-08Seasonal fares2026-10-08