Itinerary
Nikko & Yunishigawa — A Quiet Winter Birthday Escape
4 days · 9 stops · ¥80,000–¥140,000
Sat, Dec 5 – Tue, Dec 8
A 4-day drive from Tokyo into Nikko's misty mountains, a preserved post-town, and a secluded onsen village — capped by a winter illumination of five million lights.
Days
No machine-readable author provided. Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims). / Public domain
Futarasan Shrine
Tochigi
Schedule
Day 01 of 04Arrive 9:00 · first activity from 9:30
arriving by road — short parking buffer
Renting a car? Check the license rules
Some licenses (FR/DE/CH/BE/TW) need a JAF translation, not an IDP — 5-min guide.
Stay
Nikko · 3 nights
Sat, Dec 5 → Tue, Dec 8 · 2 guests
09:30
EXPLORE
日光二荒山神社
Stay ~1h
Your first stop after the drive — Nikko's oldest shrine, dedicated to the mountain gods, with a peaceful, mossy atmosphere that sets the tone.
~3 min on foot
10:33
EXPLORE
大猷院
Stay ~1h 15m
The deliberately darker, quieter mausoleum of the third shogun — far less crowded than Toshogu, with exquisite gold-and-black carvings.
~1h 6m by car
17:00
EXPLORE
Eventあしかがフラワーパーク光の花の庭
Stay ~2h
A 40-min drive south — five million LEDs turn the winter garden into a dreamscape of light tunnels and glowing flowers; runs until Feb 15.
Getting around
⛩️
Tobu Nikko Pass (All Area)
Round-trip from Asakusa + buses to Chūzenji, Kegon Falls & Yumoto Onsen — ¥4,780 / 4 days (¥4,160 Dec–mid-Apr).
View Tobu Nikko Pass (All Area) →🚗
Rental car recommended
Several stops on this route are in rural areas with limited rail access. A rental car from the nearest city hub gives you the freedom to reach places no bus serves.
Browse rental cars on Klook →01 / 04
Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥14,500–¥25,500 / person / day
¥115,000–¥205,000 total for 2 travellers
💴 Carry ~¥9,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 8 travel legs, 3 hotel nights and 1 ticketed event. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
Before you go
Passes for this trip
Everything else, sorted.
Stay Connected
Japan eSIM delivered instantly to your phone — 5% off with code HIDDENJAPAN.
Get yours
Get Around
Shinkansen, regional rail passes, and city transit — sorted before you land.
Compare passes
Stay Hidden
Sleep in a centuries-old ryokan. Tatami floors, onsen, and a 7-course kaiseki.
Browse ryokans
Travel Light
Ship luggage ahead on the shinkansen route. Explore every day completely hands-free.
Book delivery
Travel Safe
Insurance that actually covers adventurous travel — hiking, onsen, ski slopes.
Get covered
Save on Exchange
Spend yen at the real mid-market rate. Saves real money on a 2-week trip.
Open free
Hidden Japan may earn a small commission on purchases — at no extra cost to you.
Your turn
Plan a trip like this — free
This itinerary was built from 2,350+ verified hidden places — real routes, ferries, and events matched to your dates. Yours takes about a minute.
No credit card, plan your first trip now!