Nikko

Nikko, whose name literally means “Sunlight”, is a small town in Tochigi Prefecture, on the island of Honshu. It is located at the foot of the mountains, in the heart of Nikko National Park, and 140 km north of Tokyo.

This destination is very famous in Japan for its beautiful natural environment. The west of the city is located in the Nikko Mountains massif (a group of volcanoes that includes the sacred Mount Nantai), while the east of the city is part of the Kinu River Valley. As a consequence of this atypical geography: the city of Nikko has a very variable altitude, between 200 m and 2400 m!

The place is very easily accessible from Tokyo, which is why it attracts many locals who spend a weekend there to get some fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the capital! The easiest way to get there is to take the Tobu line, which goes directly to Nikko station in less than 2 hours.

Among the must-see in Nikko is the Shinkyo Bridge, considered a sacred monument by the Japanese. According to legend, snakes were transformed into bridges when they crossed the Daiya River. It is possible to cross it for 300 yen (about 2.5 €).

To enjoy nature, the Kanmangafuchi Abyss walk is one of the most beautiful. Also not to be missed: the Kegon and Ryuzu waterfalls, as well as Lake Chuzenji. The walk around the lake goes into the nature park and allows you to see Japanese macaques. Finally, the Sanbonmatu Park is also a point of interest for the city.

Finally, Nikko is also famous for its onsen, the Japanese hot springs in which you can swim naked.

Nikko’s speciality in gastronomy is yuba, the skin collected when soya milk is boiled, tasted naturally or dried, in a variety of preparations.