1
Lake Chuzenji

Head west from JR/Tobu Nikko Station for about 50 minutes by car or bus. You’ll arrive at Lake Chūzenji, located within Nikko National Park and sitting at an elevation of 1,269 meters—one of the highest in Japan.The contrast between the beautiful, lush green mountains—such as Mount Nantai, which have long been objects of mountain worship—and the sparkling blue surface of the lake is a sight you’ll never tire of.
The lake has a circumference of approximately 25 km, but only the eastern and northern sections are open to tourists. The western and southern areas consist of hiking trails deep in nature that are accessible only on foot.We recommend the views from the Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Park and the British Embassy Villa Memorial Park, both located on the eastern side of the lake. There, you can enjoy a wide-open, expansive view. Additionally, Lake Chuzenji, bathed in the red hues of the sunset, looks like a painting and is well worth seeing.

Local Guide
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At Hoshino Resorts KAI Nikko, you can see Lake Chuzenji and Mt. Nantai from almost every room. Even if you see them every day, you will never get tired of looking at them. I recommend taking a picture of Lake Chuzenji from the British Embassy to get a high-definition look!

2
Odashirogahara

Continuing north from Lake Chūzenji, you’ll eventually come to Senjōgahara; to the west of this area lies Odashirogahara, a basin-shaped wetland with a circumference of about 2 km. The most popular sight here is the breathtaking view of a single white birch tree standing majestically in the vast wetland.Commonly known as the “Lady of Odashirogahara,” this tree offers different views depending on the season, weather, and viewing angle.

Local Guide
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On weekends from June to November, low-pollution buses run from 4:00 a.m., and many photographers head out early in the morning to capture the moment when the "Lady of Odashirogahara" begins to glow with the morning sun rising from the mountain edge.

Odashirogahara is registered as a Ramsar Convention ( * ) wetland and is recognized internationally as a wetland of particular importance as a habitat for waterfowl. It is also a rare wetland in the transitional phase from marsh to grassland, which is why it is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.The area is surrounded by forests of Japanese white oak and larch, and in the fall, the grass turns crimson, adding color to the landscape. On clear days, you can see Mount Nantai beyond the marsh.

3
Kegon Falls

Kegon Falls, where water flowing out of Lake Chūzenji plunges abruptly from a cliff face approximately 97 meters high, overwhelms viewers with its grandeur. It is counted among Japan’s Three Great Waterfalls.Apart from the main stream, which plunges down with a thunderous roar, several streams of spring water flow down from the rocks in the middle section; this area is known as the “Twelve Waterfalls.” To take impressive photos, take the elevator down about 100 meters through the bedrock to the viewing platform near the pool at the base of the falls.From there, you can gaze up at this magnificent waterfall—a source of national pride—from below while looking out over the approximately 4.5-meter-deep pool up close.

Local Guide
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The day after a rainy day, the volume of water is so great that it sometimes reaches 5 tons per second. It is very powerful and highly recommended.

4
Kirifuri Highlands

The Kirifuri Highlands stretch from an elevation of 1,300 to 1,600 meters on the eastern foothills of Mount Nyohō—one of the Three Mountains of Nikko—north of downtown Nikko. From spring through early summer, plants such as dogtooth violets and larch-leaved primroses bloom here, making it a treasure trove of diverse flora.Among them, the Nikko buttercup, which blooms annually from late June to mid-July, is particularly spectacular. Its yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers burst forth across the slopes, creating a breathtaking sight that stands out vividly against the highland’s greenery and the blue sky.Well-maintained walking trails make it easy to explore, and those confident in their stamina can climb the 1,445 steps of the “Sky Corridor” to enjoy the refreshing views from the Komaru-yama Observation Deck.

Local Guide
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Nikkohkisuge is sometimes said to be "a one-day flower that blooms in the morning and closes in the evening," and since the flowers were closed when I visited in the evening, I recommend that you go in the morning or afternoon.

5
Ryuo Gorge

The Ryuoukyo Gorge boasts a unique canyon beauty, with a meandering river flowing between steep cliffs. It is said that the name "Ryuohkyo" comes from its resemblance to a dragon slouching. The current of the Kinugawa River has carved out the volcanic rocks that erupted from an undersea volcanic eruption approximately 22 million years ago, and they have taken their present form. The valley is divided into three sections from upstream: Shiryukyo, Seiryukyo, and Shiryukyo, and each offers a different atmosphere with different colors of rock surfaces. There is a 6-km-long nature exploration course along the gorge, allowing visitors to take a walk according to their time and physical strength. Here and there along the course are scattered scenic spots where the rocks and water are woven together in a thousand different ways.

Local Guide
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The most crowded time to visit is during the autumn foliage season, but the lush greenery of summer at Ryuoukyo is also recommended. The view of the gorge from the Musabi Bridge is spectacular.

Ryuoukyo Gorge

• 1531 Tokono, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture MAP
• A short walk from Ryuoukyo Station on the Noiwa Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line
• 0288-76-4111 (Fujiwara Tourism Division, Nikko City)
• Free of charge

6
Kinu Tateiwa Great Suspension Bridge

The Kinugawa Tateiwa Grand Suspension Bridge spans the Kinugawa River as it flows between the rocks, offering a view from a height of approximately 37 meters. This pedestrian-only suspension bridge connects the Kinugawa Hot Spring resort area with the scenic “Tateiwa” rock formation across the river.With a total length of about 140 meters, the experience becomes quite thrilling when you reach the center of the bridge.Because it connects the “feminine” Kinugawa River with the “masculine” Tateiwa Rock, it is also known as the “Bridge of Matchmaking.” At the summit of Tateiwa Rock stands the Tateiwa Observation Deck, offering a panoramic view of the Great Suspension Bridge and the Kinugawa Hot Springs.

Local Guide
Supporters

Both the suspension bridge and the nearby parking lot are free of charge, so this is definitely a place to stop by when you are in Kinugawa hot springs. Kinugawa in the summer is a lively place with river rafting, canyoning, rafting, and other river activities, so it is a fun time to touch hands with people participating in these activities.