Best trails in Nikko National Park
Nikko National Park, a mountainous region formed by volcanic activity, is home to a variety of tree species, including maples, oaks, and beech. This park is known for its lush forests and spectacular views of bright fall foliage. A diverse ecosystem is maintained, and you may even encounter wildlife such as sika deer and Japanese macaques. You can also enjoy scenic views of waterfalls, wetlands, and beautiful lakes.
Admire the elaborate carvings at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, one of Japan's most famous temples, or take the Nasu Ropeway to a still-active volcano.
Top trails
Trail reviews for Nikko National Park
A great walk that includes the 2 waterfalls and the Senjōgahara marshland boardwalk. We started from Yumoto Onsen bus stop and walked around Lake Yunoko before this trail. Recommend this way so that the walk is more downhill than uphill. Great views throughout. Highly recommend. They are currently updating parts of the boardwalk with new timber, so this will make the walk even nicer when finished! Tip: add the extra 10 minutes walk from Ryuzu falls at the end to get the 15:50 Shōbugahama ferry back to Chuzenji for 17:00, so you can get an express bus back to Tobu Nikko.
Stunning. Not crowded. I only went to the top of the stairs as that was the part roped off and more accessible. I did not see any bears but lots of dragonflies, birds, and butterflies. I’m glad I chose this hike for my Nikko trip. Highly satisfied!
Amazing trail. You go from Nikko center, to Shrines, to complete forest giving ghibli vibes... Basically you get it all. Reallyyyy great trail. GO AND PAY TO VISIT THE IEMITSU mausoleum that you pass by during the trail, completely magnificent and cheap entry fees.
Spectacular and serene experience in a rarely quiet Japan. Nikko is easily reached from Tokyo in a couple of hours on a train, and then busses run constantly from the station right to the trailhead- takes about an hour on the bus and costs about 1500 yen each way. The trail is not to be taken lightly- it’s probably right at the limit for a recreational hiker to do in a day- it’s one of the steepest trails I’ve done and took almost as long to come down as it did going up- our moving time was 5hrs 45min with another 45 min on the summit and we’re both very experienced and usually move very fast in the Rockies- I’ve done several 14ers in less time. I’d give yourself 7-8 hours round trip if you aren’t super fit/experienced. Strava said this was longer than AllTrails- over 6 miles round trip.
The trail is very well known: it's the marshland section between Nikko and Yumoto. It's very easy to hike, at beginner level, so there's no particular difficulty. If you're lucky in March/early April, you'll still find snow. The waterfalls and lake at the finish are magnificent. Don't hesitate to walk around the lake once you're at the top - it's superb! And while you're up there, don't hesitate to go for an onsen in one of the hotels available. We recommend the Kyukamura Nikko-Yumoto, which is reasonably priced and top-notch!
Superb drive to visit Nikko! Lots of roads on the way!