Tochigi Prefecture district, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Places to visit near Nikkō

Nikkō is a town in Tochigi Prefecture district, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, home to about 16,041 people. Within 50 km by road there are 45 places to visit — 12 temples, 9 buddhist sites, 5 parks and 2 forts & heritage. The must-see places are Shōyō Garden (2 km), Rinnō Temple Complex (2 km) and Tōshō-gū Shrine (2 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Nikkō on the map

Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture
Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture district, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Nikkō at a glance

Location
Tochigi Prefecture district, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Population
about 16,041
Coordinates
36.7500° N, 139.6167° E
Places within 50 km
45 (45 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to March for buddhist sites; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for temples and parks

Top places to visit near Nikkō

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Nikkō: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Nikkō

Things to see near Nikkō, by type

Temples near Nikkō

67 temples within 100 km of Nikkō. The closest is Futarasan Shrine (3 km). Best time: year-round.

All temples in Tochigi Prefecture →

Buddhist sites near Nikkō

63 buddhist sites within 100 km of Nikkō. The closest is Rinnō Temple Complex (2 km). Best time: october to march.

  • Rinnō Temple Complex · Buddhist site · Tochigi Prefecture · ~2 km · Must-see
  • Chūzen Temple · Buddhist site · Tochigi Prefecture · ~14 km · Must-see
  • 佐貫観音院 · Buddhist site · Shioya · ~20 km · Must-see
  • 竜蔵寺 · Buddhist site · Tochigi Prefecture · ~22 km · Must-see
  • Onsen-ji Temple · Buddhist site · Tochigi Prefecture · ~23 km · Must-see
  • Oya Temple · Buddhist site · Tochigi Prefecture · ~31 km · Must-see

All buddhist sites in Tochigi Prefecture →

Parks near Nikkō

12 parks within 100 km of Nikkō. The closest is Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura (11 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Tochigi Prefecture →

Forts & heritage near Nikkō

9 forts & heritage within 100 km of Nikkō. The closest is Tōshō-gū Shrine (2 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Tochigi Prefecture →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Nikkō

9 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Nikkō. The closest is Mount Nantai (14 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Mount Nantai · viewpoint · Tochigi Prefecture · ~14 km · Must-see
  • Mt. Tashiro · viewpoint · Tochigi Prefecture · ~35 km · Must-see
  • Mount Hiuchigatake · viewpoint · Tochigi Prefecture · ~46 km · Must-see
  • Mount Shibutsu · viewpoint · Tone · ~54 km · Must-see
  • Mt. Akagi · viewpoint · Gunma Prefecture · ~56 km · Must-see
  • Mount Tanigawa · viewpoint · Gunma Prefecture · ~77 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Tochigi Prefecture →

Waterfalls near Nikkō

7 waterfalls within 100 km of Nikkō. The closest is Takinoo-jinja Shrine (3 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

All waterfalls in Tochigi Prefecture →

A one-day trip from Nikkō

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 8 km on the road.

  1. Start in Nikkō
  2. 2 km Shōyō Garden · garden, Tochigi Prefecture
  3. 1 km Rinnō Temple Complex · Buddhist site, Tochigi Prefecture
  4. 1 km 日光真光教会 · church, Tochigi Prefecture
  5. 1 km Futarasan Shrine · temple, Tochigi Prefecture
  6. 1 km Tōshō-gū Shrine · heritage site, Tochigi Prefecture
  7. 2 km Back to Nikkō

Plan a longer trip from Nikkō — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Nikkō

No traveller has reported from around Nikkō yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Nikkō

    All places near Nikkō by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Nikkō by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Temples1267Futarasan Shrine (3 km)
    Buddhist sites963Rinnō Temple Complex (2 km)
    Parks512Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura (11 km)
    Forts & heritage29Tōshō-gū Shrine (2 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints39Mount Nantai (14 km)
    Waterfalls57Takinoo-jinja Shrine (3 km)
    Museums26大谷資料館 (31 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens35Shōyō Garden (2 km)
    Churches22日光真光教会 (3 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs22Ozenuma (42 km)
    Other attractions01Ashikaga Gakkō (60 km)
    Mosques & dargahs01Babul Islam Masjid (65 km)

    Nikkō: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Nikkō?

    Shōyō Garden (garden, about 2 km), Rinnō Temple Complex (Buddhist site, about 2 km), Tōshō-gū Shrine (heritage site, about 2 km), 日光真光教会 (church, about 3 km), Futarasan Shrine (temple, about 3 km), Nikko Botanical Garden (garden, about 3 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Nikkō?

    45 places on Spotwander: 12 temples, 9 buddhist sites, 5 parks, 2 forts & heritage, 3 hill stations & viewpoints.

    Which is the nearest temple to Nikkō?

    Futarasan Shrine, about 3 km by road; 報徳二宮神社 (9 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest Buddhist site to Nikkō?

    Rinnō Temple Complex, about 2 km by road; Chūzen Temple (14 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Nikkō?

    Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura, about 11 km by road; 千手山公園 (28 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Nikkō?

    Start in Nikkō, visit Shōyō Garden, then Rinnō Temple Complex, then 日光真光教会, then Futarasan Shrine, then Tōshō-gū Shrine, and drive back — about 8 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Nikkō?

    October to March for buddhist sites; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for temples and parks.

    Towns near Nikkō

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Nikkō’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Nikkō on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.