Autumn Colors in Oku-Nikko and Senjogahara marshland
奥日光と戦場ヶ原の紅葉 （日光市）
Visit this Autumn wonderland and enjoy walking, hiking, cycling, as well as fun water activities.
DATE
2023 : End of September to mid December
*Dates and times have been confirmed by the organizer.
Seasons
Odashirogahara（小田代ヶ原）How to get there
Best for season for autumn Colors — Late September to Mid October
Yumoto / Lake Yunoko（湯元 / 湯ノ湖）How to get there
Best for season for autumn Colors — Early October to Mid October
Senjogahara（戦場ヶ原）How to get there
Best for season for autumn Colors — Mid October to Early November
Ryuzu Falls / Ryuzu no taki（竜頭ノ滝）How to get there
Best for season for autumn Colors — Early October to Mid October
Lake Chuzenji. / Chuzenjiko（中禅寺湖）How to get there
Best for season for autumn Colors — Mid October to Late October
Kegon Falls / Kegon no taki（華厳の滝）How to get there
Best for season for autumn Colors — Mid October to Late October
*The best season may slightly change depending on the weather.
SCHEDULE
Day 1 (15th)- Japan Cup Criterium
Event starts: 14:30
Race: 15:40 – 16:30
Awards ceremony: 16:40 –
Day 2 (16th) – Japan Cup Cycle Road Race
Event starts: 9:00
Race: 10:00 – 14:10
Awards ceremony: 14:30 –
*All dates & activities are subject to change due to weather and/or unforeseen circumstances.
COST
Free
How to enjoy the autumn colors in Oku-Nikko?
Take stunning photos
Enjoy the nature
Walk in nature
Hiking
Chuzenji Lake Cruise
Historical buildings and shrines
Enjoy water sports (SUP, Canoeing)
Friends & Family
Couples
Enjoy for a full day
Soak in the 🍁🍂 amazing autumn colors in Oku-Nikko
Further into the mountains from the UNESCO registered Nikko shrines is ⛰️ Oku-Nikko, a popular destination where you can experience a beautiful view of orange, red, and yellow 🍁🍂🍃 leaves covering the mountains, lakes and waterfalls. This magnificent fall foliage has been enjoyed many artists and is a sight not to be missed.
There are many ways to enjoy Oku-Nikko’s beauty such as taking the 🛥️ Chuzenjiko lake cruise or visiting the English & Italian embassy villas, visiting waterfalls (such as the famous Kegon falls) or🚶walking through the many footpaths.
If you are active, we recommend 🛶 canoeing or 🏄standup paddle-boarding or 🥾hiking up one of the hills to enjoy a view from above. There is also a ⛺camping site in Shoubugahama, on the shore of Chuzenji lake, where you can fully immerse yourself in the beauty and watch the early morning mist cross the lake.
🌰 Peak season for the 🍁🍂autumn leaves in Oku-Nikko is late September to Late October. (Oku-Nikko is higher than the Nikko shrines (Toshogu shrines) so peak season is earlier than the autumn leaves
During peak season, the roads can get busy in the morning, so we recommend staying at least one night at one of the nice hotels near Chuzenjiko Lake to make the most of your journey!
*Oku-Nikko is home to Chuzenjiko Lake which is 1,269 meters above sea level, making it the highest elevated lake in Japan.
What else to do in Oku-Nikko?
Onesn (Hot springs)
Nice Hotels and Ryokans
Camping
Enjoy local food (vegetables and fish)
Akechidaira Ropeway
(Cable Car)
Reach amazing views in just 3 minutes! From the Akechidaira Observation Deck, enjoy breathtaking vistas of Chuzenji Lake, Kegon Falls, and Mount Nantai. Located on the way up Irohazaka road!
Access - How to get to Oku-Nikko
Odashirogahara
📍Odashirogahara (小田代ヶ原）
From Tokyo
- 3h from Tokyo by train & Bus. (Tobu line)
- 3h drive from Tokyo by car
Address
Entrance of Hiking trail
(Akanuma Chaya )
2494 Chuguji, Nikko city, Tochigi Pref
〒321-1661 栃木県日光市中宮祠2494
By Train
Tobu Line
From Tokyo take the Tobu Limited express to Tobu Nikko sta. Then take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Akanuma Bus stop (Bus stop No. 39).
JR Line
Take the Shinkansen to JR Utsunomiya Sta. and change to the JR Nikko line. From JR Nikko sta. take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Akanuma Bus stop (Bus stop No. 39).
By Car
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Express way to Utsunomiya IC and change to the Nikko-Utsunomiya Yuryo Douro (Nikko-Utsunomiya Expressway). Get off at Kiyotaki IC and drive 45 min.
*Peak season can be very busy especially on weekends (the roads start to get crowded at 6:30AM from Kiotaki IC), so if you are a experienced driver and driving from Tokyo or Gunma you may want to drive via Numata IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (Kanetsu Jidoshado) .
Senjogahara
📍Senjogahara (戦場ヶ原）
From Tokyo
- 3h from Tokyo by train & Bus. (Tobu line)
- 3h drive from Tokyo by car
Address
Entrance of Hiking trail
(Akanuma Chaya )
2494 Chuguji, Nikko city, Tochigi Pref
〒321-1661 栃木県日光市中宮祠2494
By Train
Tobu Line
From Tokyo take the Tobu Limited express to Tobu Nikko sta. Then take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Akanuma Bus stop (Bus stop No. 39).
JR Line
Take the Shinkansen to JR Utsunomiya Sta. and change to the JR Nikko line. From JR Nikko sta. take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Akanuma Bus stop (Bus stop No. 39).
By Car
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Express way to Utsunomiya IC and change to the Nikko-Utsunomiya Yuryo Douro (Nikko-Utsunomiya Expressway). Get off at Kiyotaki IC and drive 45 min.
*Peak season can be very busy especially on weekends (the roads start to get crowded at 6:30AM from Kiotaki IC), so if you are a experienced driver and driving from Tokyo or Gunma you may want to drive via Numata IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (Kanetsu Jidoshado) .
Yumoto (Lake Yunoko)
📍Yunoko (湯ノ湖）
From Tokyo
- 3h 40min from Tokyo by train & Bus. (Tobu line)
- 3 h 30min drive from Tokyo by car
Address
Yumoto Visitor Center (日光湯元ビジターセンター)
2549-27 Yumoto, Nikko city, Tochigi Pref
〒321-1662 栃木県日光市湯元2549-27
By Train
Tobu Line
From Tokyo take the Tobu Limited express to Tobu Nikko sta. Then take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Yumoto Onsen stop (Bus stop No. 46).
JR Line
Take the Shinkansen to JR Utsunomiya Sta. and change to the JR Nikko line. From JR Nikko sta. take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Yumoto Onsen Bus stop (Bus stop No. 46).
By Car
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Express way to Utsunomiya IC and change to the Nikko-Utsunomiya Yuryo Douro (Nikko-Utsunomiya Expressway). Get off at Kiyotaki IC and drive 60 min.
*Peak season can be very busy especially on weekends (the roads start to get crowded at 6:30AM from Kiotaki IC), so if you are a experienced driver and driving from Tokyo or Gunma you may want to drive via Numata IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (Kanetsu Jidoshado) .
Ryuzu Falls (Ryuzu no taki)
📍Ryuzu Falls (竜頭ノ滝）
From Tokyo
- 3h from Tokyo by train & Bus. (Tobu line)
- 3h drive from Tokyo by car
Address
Ryuzu Falls (Ryuzu no taki)
2845 Chuguji, Nikko city, Tochigi Pref
〒321-1661 栃木県日光市中宮祠2845
By Train
Tobu Line
From Tokyo take the Tobu Limited express to Tobu Nikko sta. Then take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Ryuzu no Taki bus stop (Bus stop No. 37).
JR Line
Take the Shinkansen to JR Utsunomiya Sta. and change to the JR Nikko line. From JR Nikko sta. take the Tobu Bus towards Yumoto Onsen and get off at Ryuzu no Taki bus stop (Bus stop No. 37).
By Car
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Express way to Utsunomiya IC and change to the Nikko-Utsunomiya Yuryo Douro (Nikko-Utsunomiya Expressway). Get off at Kiyotaki IC and drive 40 min.
*Peak season can be very busy especially on weekends (the roads start to get crowded at 6:30AM from Kiotaki IC), so if you are a experienced driver and driving from Tokyo or Gunma you may want to drive via Numata IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (Kanetsu Jidoshado) .
Lake Chuzenji (Chuzenjiko)
📍Lake Chuzenji (中禅寺湖）
From Tokyo
- 3h from Tokyo by train & Bus. (Tobu line)
- 3h drive from Tokyo by car
Address
Chuzenji Onsen Bus stop
中禅寺温泉バス停周辺
2480-1 Chuguji, Nikko city, Tochigi Prefecture
〒321-1661 栃木県日光市中宮祠 2480-1
By Train
Tobu Line
From Tokyo take the Tobu Limited express to Tobu Nikko sta. Then take the Tobu Bus towards Chuzenjiko and get off at Chuzenji Onsen bus stop (Bus stop No. 26).
JR Line
Take the Shinkansen to JR Utsunomiya Sta. and change to the JR Nikko line. From JR Nikko sta. take the Tobu Bus towards Chuzenjiko and get off at Chuzenji Onsen bus stop (Bus stop No. 26).
By Car
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Express way to Utsunomiya IC and change to the Nikko-Utsunomiya Yuryo Douro (Nikko-Utsunomiya Expressway). Get off at Kiyotaki IC and drive 40 min.
*Peak season can be very busy especially on weekends (the roads start to get crowded at 6:30AM from Kiotaki IC), so if you are a experienced driver and driving from Tokyo or Gunma you may want to drive via Numata IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (Kanetsu Jidoshado) .
Kegon Falls (Kegon no Taki)
📍Kegon Falls (華厳の滝）
From Tokyo
- 3h from Tokyo by train & Bus. (Tobu line)
- 2h 45min drive from Tokyo by car
Address
Walk from Chuzenji Onsen Bus stop
中禅寺温泉バス停周辺
2480-1 Chuguji, Nikko city, Tochigi Prefecture
〒321-1661 栃木県日光市中宮祠 2480-1
By Train
Tobu Line
From Tokyo take the Tobu Limited express to Tobu Nikko sta. Then take the Tobu Bus towards Chuzenjiko and get off at Chuzenji Onsen bus stop (Bus stop No. 26).
JR Line
Take the Shinkansen to JR Utsunomiya Sta. and change to the JR Nikko line. From JR Nikko sta. take the Tobu Bus towards Chuzenjiko and get off at Chuzenji Onsen bus stop (Bus stop No. 26).
By Car
From Tokyo take the Tohoku Express way to Utsunomiya IC and change to the Nikko-Utsunomiya Yuryo Douro (Nikko-Utsunomiya Expressway). Get off at Kiyotaki IC and drive 40 min.
*Peak season can be very busy especially on weekends (the roads start to get crowded at 6:30AM from Kiotaki IC), so if you are a experienced driver and driving from Tokyo or Gunma you may want to drive via Numata IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (Kanetsu Jidoshado) .
*If you want to take the ropeway from Akechidaira, please be aware that it is on a one-way road so the only way to see it is to stop on the way up Irohazaka road.
Places to STAY
Ryokan (Japanese style)
Hotel (Western style)
There are many western style Hotels in Oku-Nikko including the newly opened Ritz-Carlton.
Holiday rental (Airbnb)
There are many houses and rooms available to rent on major rental websites.
Guesthouses
There are many guesthouses for budget travel.
Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel
Experience history and comfort at this Western-style hotel, nestled in lush Mizunara groves by Lake Chuzenji. A truly relaxing and fulfilling stay awaits you. Check availability here!
Further resources
Nikko Yumoto Visitor Center
Autumn season calendar (External Link – Japanese)
Oku Nikko Onsen Ryokan Association
About Autumn Hiking (External Link – Japanese)
Nikko Natural Science Museum
English Website (External Link)
Nikko Official Guide
English Website (External Link)
Oku-Nikko-Shitsugen (Ramsar sites in Japan)
English Article (PDF) (External Link)
Bus routes (Nikko and Oku-Nikko) updated April, 2022
PDF (Bus route map for Nikko area) (External Link)
