Okunikko and Shinkyo Bridge (奥日光と神橋)

Nikko (日光市) in Tochigi prefecture (栃木県) is very accessible from metropolitan Tokyo. There are a lot of discount passes available like the All Nikko Pass, 2 Day Nikko Pass and the Kinugawa Theme Park Pass. We took the last one, the variant that includes admission to Nikko Edomura (or Nikko Wonderland) and Tobu World Square, and that cost us JPY7,200/pax. That pass is valid for 2 consecutive days, including the round trip train ride from Asakusa station (浅草駅) in Tokyo via the Tobu line (東武線), unlimited train rides between Tobu-Nikko station (東武日光駅) and Kinugawa Onsen (鬼怒川温泉), and unlimited bus rides to the 2 theme parks.

Since the Kinugawa Theme Park Pass is generally for the Kinugawa Onsen area, it does not cover the buses from Tobu Nikko station to other parts of Nikko, including Okunikko. Thus, we had to pay for each bus ride that we took in the Nikko area.

Tobu Nikko station

Autumn was just about to start when we went to Nikko, so even though some of the temples in Nikko are quite famous in Japan, we chose to go to some places which we thought we could see some kōyō (紅葉) or autumn leaves.

First stop was Lake Chuzenji (中禅寺湖) in Okunikko. One way bus fare from Tobu Nikko station to Chuzenji Onsen (中禅寺温泉) bus stop cost JPY1,100/pax. The lake is just a 5-minute walk from the bus stop heading west. At that time, it was very clear that autumn was just getting started, as almost everything was still green.

In the opposite direction from Chuzenji Onsen bus stop is Kegon Falls (華厳の滝), our second stop. Beside the bus stop is the Nikko Natural Science Museum, but we weren't interested and instead, we headed straight to Kegon Falls. The falls can be seen from an observatory, but for JPY530, one can ride the elevator down to the lower observation deck that offers a different view of the falls.

Our last stop in Okunikko was Ryuzu Falls (竜頭の滝), which is also known as "dragon head waterfall". This required a bus ride from Kegon Falls, and the bus fare from Chuzenji Onsen to Ryuzu Falls was JPY410/pax. At that time, the autumn leaves were peaking around the area of Ryuzu Falls, so at least we were able to see some autumn colors.

Ryuzu Falls is farther from Tobu Nikko station, so the bus ride back cost JPY1,350. And just near the station is Nikko's iconic bridge - Shinkyo Bridge (神橋). The same bus towards Okunikko can be taken, and the cost of the bus ride from Tobu Nikko station to Shinkyo Bridge is just JPY190. Although it's a simple place, I think it should be included in any Nikko itinerary because it's the place that can be easily identified with Nikko. In my opinion, it's like the Glico man of Osaka, where you can't say you've been to Osaka if you didn't have your picture taken with the Glico man.