Nikko is a popular tourist destination in Japan. It consists of many attractive places like Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Chuzenji Lake, Kegon Waterfalls etc.
How to Reach Nikko by Train:
By Tobu
The fastest and most convenient way to access Nikko is on the private Tōbu Nikkō Line from Tokyo's Tobu-Asakusa station.
Tōbu
Railway runs all-reserved limited express services, known as tokkyū
trains, to the area. These trains, which use Tobu's "SPACIA" railroad
equipment, have comfortable, reclining seats, with vending machines and
KIOSK available on most trains. One service, called Kegon runs directly
from Asakusa to Nikko in the morning, and back to Asakusa in the
afternoon. There is one daily departure from Asakusa at 7:30 am, and
depending on the season, there may be an additional departure at 9:30
am. The other service, Kinu, departs from Asakusa more frequently, but
branches off to Kinugawa so you will need to transfer at Shimo-Imaichi
station to a local shuttle train for the final 10-minute run to Nikko.
This train is timed to meet the Kinu arrival. Both the Kegon run, and
the Kinu run with transfer, take about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Regular
direct trains, which depart from Asakusa about each hour, cost ¥1320
each way. Rapid, or Kaisoku trains, take two hours; the slower Section
Rapid, or Kukan-Kaisoku takes 2 1/2 hours. You must board one of the
last two cars, since the train divides en route.
In
addition, Tōbu Railway offers three convenient passes for Nikko and
Kinugawa hot spring area, which can be used only by visitors to Japan.
1. All Nikko Pass [3] allows unlimited buses and train access in the
Nikko and Kinugawa area and includes some discounts for nearby
attractions, but does not include entry to the shrines. Valid for 4
days, cost ¥4400. Recommended for visitors coming to see Nikko's lakes
and falls.
1. World Heritage Pass [4] covers a
round-trip to Nikko and Kinugawa and includes admission to the shrines.
Valid for 2 days, cost ¥3600. Some discounts for Kinugawa Theme Park are
also included.
1. Kinugawa Themepark Pass [5]
covers round-trip fare, bus pass and admission to Tobu World Square.
Basic two-day pass ¥4000, up to ¥7200 if you add in Edo Wonderland and
Nikko Edo Village as well.
All three passes allows
unlimited train rides (regular trains only) from Shimo-Imaichi to
Tobu-Nikko and Kinugawa Hot Spring Stations. These passes are only valid
for trains departing from Asakusa - they cannot be used for trains
leaving Shinjuku or Ikebukuro. For those, see the joint JR/Tobu route
below.
These passes can be booked online. For ¥1000 extra, you can get reserved seats and travel on the limited express services.
You
can get these passes at Tobu Sightseeing Service Center, right next to
the north exit of Tobu Railway's Asakusa Station. Staff who can speak
English are available.
By JR
Travel
by JR costs more and takes longer, and isn't really worth considering
unless you have a Japan Rail Pass, in which case you can take the Tohoku
Shinkansen (Yamabiko, Max Yamabiko, Tsubasa or Nasuno) from Tokyo
Station or Ueno to Utsunomiya (50 minutes or 44 minutes, respectively),
then connect to the JR Nikko line (43 minutes from Utsunomiya to Nikko).
From Tokyo Station, the whole trip will take from about 1 hour 40
minutes to around 2 hours, depending mostly on the connection in
Utsunomiya.
By JR and Tobu
In March of 2006, JR East and Tobu began joint limited-express service from Shinjuku station to the Nikko area.
This
service offers one daily round-trip between Shinjuku and Tobu-Nikko
station. The Nikko limited express departs Shinjuku at 7:12, and makes
stops at Ikebukuro and Omiya, then continues via JR tracks to Kurihashi
station, where control of the train is turned over to Tobu. Operating
over the Tobu Nikko line, the train then makes three more stops before
terminating at Tobu-Nikko. The one-way journey lasts about two hours.
Other
limited express trains depart Shinjuku for Kinugawa, so you will have
to transfer to a shuttle train at Shimo-Imaichi for the final run to
Tobu-Nikko. This also takes about two hours. This service is all in
addition to Tobu's regularly-scheduled Kegon and Kinu service into and
out of Asakusa.
Seat reservations are mandatory, and
the fare for this journey is ¥3900 each way. Japan Rail Pass holders can
use this limited express train departing Shinjuku for ¥1560 each way
(covering the portion of the trip between Kurihashi and Tobu-Nikko).
Holders
of the JR East Rail Pass, on the other hand, may use the service to
Nikko at no additional charge; the trip is fully covered. Unlike the
regular Japan Rail Pass, the JR East Pass also covers local Tobu trains
between Shimo-Imachi and Tobu-Nikko, and Shimo-Imaichi and
Kinugawa-Onsen. You will have to pay separate fares for any services
that are not covered.
If you plan on taking this
service in both directions, consider the JR Tobu Nikko Kinugawa Free
Pass (¥7800), sold to Japanese and foreigners alike. Valid for three
consecutive days, it includes one round-trip on the joint JR/Tobu
limited express service and unlimited travel on local Tobu trains and
buses within that area. It does not include admission to the Nikko
temples.
There are luggage lockers at the JR Nikko Station.
Source: Wikipedia
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