Recommended Length: 1 Day
Experience Nikko National Park and Okunikko through the scenery of Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls. Later, unwind in a lakeside hot spring.
The Best of Nikko's Nature
Day 1
Nikko Station / Tobu-Nikko Station
By bus
40 minutes from the Nikko Station or Tobu-Nikko Station on a bus bound for Chuzenji Onsen or Yumoto Onsen. Get off at Akechidaira bus stop.
Ropeway
By bus
20 minutes from Akechidaira bus stop on a bus bound for Yumoto Onsen. Get off at Ryuzunotaki bus stop.
Waterfall
Ryuzu Falls
One of Nikko’s great waterfalls, Ryuzu Falls consists of two cascades dropping over 210 meters. It is especially beautiful when the rhododendrons are in bloom (May to June), and when the leaves of the surrounding maple and linden trees burst into full autumn colors (September to October). There is an observation deck right by the falls.
Nature
By bus
10 minutes by buses bound for the JR Nikko Station. Get off at Funenoeki-Chuzenji bus stop.
Lake
Lake Chuzenji
About 20,000 years ago, an eruption of Mt. Nantai created Lake Chuzenji at its foot. At an altitude of 1,269 meters, Chuzenji is Japan’s highest natural lake, with a 25-kilometer hiking trail along its perimeter. During the 19th and 20th centuries it was a popular summer resort for villas owned by foreigners and embassies. The landscape includes blooming azaleas in early summer and bright foliage in autumn.
Nature
On Foot
10-minute walk
Waterfall
Kegon Falls
Cascading from Lake Chuzenji at a height of 97 meters, Kegon Falls is ranked among Japan’s three most beautiful waterfalls. Lush greenery surrounds the area in spring, migratory Asian house martins visit in summer, and the waterfall freezes solid in winter. Paid admission to an observatory platform at the base of the falls offers close-up views.
Nature
On Foot
20-minute walk
Daytrip Onsen
Chuzenji Onsen
Chuzenji Onsen, located at the north end of Lake Chuzenji, is drawn from Nikko Yumoto Onsen, 12 kilometers away. Over that distance, the water—originally 78 degrees Celsius—gradually cools down to the perfect temperature for bathing. Visitors can also enjoy sightseeing spots near the resort such as Chugushi (a sub-shrine of Futarasan-jinja Shrine) and Kegon Falls, whose scenery changes dramatically as the seasons pass.
HOT SPRING
By bus
40 minutes from Chuzenji Onsen bus stop