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

Days

Hours

Min

Sec

*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

Beautiful autum leaves 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)

Access - How to get to Oku-Nikko

Odashirogahara

📍Odashirogahara (小田代ヶ原）

From Tokyo

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

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.

Yumoto (Lake Yunoko)

📍Yunoko (湯ノ湖）

From Tokyo

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.

Ryuzu Falls (Ryuzu no taki)

📍Ryuzu Falls (竜頭ノ滝）

From Tokyo

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.

Lake Chuzenji (Chuzenjiko)

📍Lake Chuzenji (中禅寺湖）

From Tokyo

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.

Kegon Falls (Kegon no Taki)

📍Kegon Falls (華厳の滝）

From Tokyo

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.

*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.