2-Day NIKKO, JAPAN Travel Itinerary: things to do, places to eat, travel tips, hidden gems

2-Day NIKKO, JAPAN Travel Itinerary: things to do, places to eat, travel tips, hidden gems

hello vlog We are in Nico I am so excited It’s my first time actually being in this area So I took the Espacia to Niko and it was absolutely beautiful It was a really easy ride from Tokyo and now I’m going to stop for a second here But yeah so now I’m going to head over to one of the famous shrines here in Niko There’s a lot of things to see that are kind of walkable from this shrine So yeah going to start there as a starting point and then I have this like walking tour I want to do in mind So we’ll see how it works out But yeah I’m excited to just explore relax take in nature Kind of hungry right now but I have an oniiddi that I got in Tokyo that I might just eat on a bench as I enjoy my surroundings So I don’t know We’ll see what we get into But yeah let’s explore Nico together Okay So what I’m noticing is that there’s actually a lot of restaurants and coffee shops that aren’t open today and it’s Thursday but they open on Friday So not sure what that’s about I don’t know if I mentioned this but I literally have done no research and maybe 2 days ago came up with this plan So I’m very illprepared for this trip [Music] So it’s really nice because they actually have signs that tell you which bus to take If you want to go to certain destinations they make it very easy for tourists [Music] Oh it’s [Music] beautiful Our first stop of the day was Niko Toshogu Shrine one of the most famous shrines in Japan It’s located about 10 minutes by bus from Tobu Niko Station alongside other World Heritage sites in the area Toshogu was established in 1617 and enshrines Tokugawa Ayasu the founder of the Tokugawa Shokunit His rise to power helped unify Japan and ushered in the Edeto period a time of peace and prosperity that lasted over 250 years After his death Ayasu was deified and Toshogu shrine became a sacred place where his spirit is believed to reside Beyond the inner shrine where his spirit rests the grounds are filled with intricately carved buildings including the famous three wise monkeys and sleeping cat each with symbolic meaning tied to Japanese values Just a heads up visiting the shrine involves a lot of stairs so be sure to wear comfortable shoes The climb to the inner shrine alone is 207 steps And that’s just one of the several staircases on the [Music] grounds So many steps In 1999 Toshoga was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site along with Hutata Shrine and Renoji Temple both of which are nearby and worth a visit if you have time Admission was 1,600 yen and in my opinion it was well worth it to experience such a significant piece of Japanese history up close [Music] So it looks like we went to one of the most famous shrines in Japan because the shogun is um buried there But now we’re going to the Futarisan Shrine for good fortune and luck in for those seeking love and domestic happiness I am dead tired though cuz that hike was there’s a lot of steps so just be prepared One thing I really appreciated about visiting Niko is how easy it was to get from one world heritage site to the next The next stop on my itinerary was just a short stroll away Padata shrine Patasan was founded in 782 by Shod Shain the Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism to the Niko region He’s also the founder of Renoji Temple and the iconic Shinko Bridge nearby Most of the grounds are free to explore but there’s also a paid area that includes peaceful gardens sacred cedar trees and smaller worship halls One of these halls houses two swords that are designated national treasures of Japan a detail that really adds to the historical weight of the visit [Music] The shrine’s main hall is considered the most sacred building on the grounds but it’s closed to the public because it serves as a sanctuary for the deities of Nico [Music] As you walk through the grounds you’ll start to notice heart-shaped motifs and rabbits throughout symbols of good fortune particularly in love and relationships You’ll also find several power spots around the shrine where people come to pray for happy marriages and domestic harmony One of the more unique highlights is a golden rabbit statue unveiled to commemorate the 1,240th anniversary of Shoto Shain’s founding of the shrine The shrine has a lot of gamelike fortunes where you can give your donation and then you get something to make a wish and there’s a lot of opportunities to pray and ask for good luck and good fortune like all around this place And right now we’re walking through this area that has all of these gods and it’s really peaceful Oh my god And look at this tree I really enjoyed taking my time here especially following the short trail where you can find statues of the seven lucky gods tucked along the path Entrance to the paid area was just 300 yen and I felt it was absolutely worth it [Music] [Music] By the time I made my way down to the Renoji Temple I was starving and getting a bit tired tired So after stopping by quickly to take a few photos I decided to move on and make my way down to the Shinkyo Bridge There are more places to visit in the area which I’ll make sure to list in the Niko guide available on my blog A link to the guide and full itinerary details will be linked in the video description So I initially was going to go to the Binoi Museum of Treasures cuz it looked really interesting but honestly I’m kind of hungry and I want to see the bridge before the sun goes down So I want to go to the bridge take some photos and then get some food At the entrance to Mount Niko you’ll find the Shinkyo Bridge a striking vermilion lacquered bridge that belongs to the Bhutanasan Shrine It’s one of Nikico’s most iconic landmarks After taking in the view I stopped for lunch at a small restaurant just off the main road near the bridge and ordered Yuba Ramen Yuba is the delicate skin that forms on top of soy milk when it’s heated It’s a local specialty here in Niko tied to the region’s spiritual roots For many of the Buddhist monks and priests in the area many of whom follow a traditional vegetarian diet Yuba has become a staple ingredient It’s mild proteinrich and surprisingly satisfying especially in a warm bowl of ramen This is what they’re known for [Music] Yuba If you’re mainly coming to Niko to see the World Heritage shrines and temples it’s totally doable as a day trip from Tokyo Most of the main sites are located close to each other I wrapped up my sightseeing way earlier than expected and decided to skip the bus ride back Instead I took a leisurely walk toward Tobu Niko station strolling along the main road Along the way I popped in and out of shops snacking browsing and picking up a few locally made goods I even had a few really lovely interactions with local shop owners which ended up being a surprising highlight of my day I’ll share more about those conversations and give a casual unfiltered recap of how everything actually felt in my next video So if you’d like to see more behindthe-scene moments from this trip be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it [Music] [Music] All right time for some coffee [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] I’m so glad I decided to stay overnight in Niko because it gave me time to take the winding mountain roads up to the Lake Chisenji area Walking to the waterfall right now It’s like a 5-minute walk from the bus stop so not too bad Weather is perfect It’s like 63° Brought an umbrella just in case [Music] There’s like some Sakura barely hanging on A little area to get [Music] food Oh my god so pretty [Music] Wow This must be beautiful in the spring when it’s in full bloom cuz these are all sticks right now but they’re filled with like sakura [Music] So Keegan waterfall was absolutely breathtaking and the lake itself was just as stunning Lake Chisenji is one of the highest natural lakes in Japan Sitting at an elevation of 4,163 ft It was formed around 20,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption from nearby Mount Nanti I can only imagine how beautiful this place must be in autumn when the surrounding hills are lit up with fall colors [Music] My final stop in Niko was Chuenji Temple another temple founded by Shoto Shain the same monk who established Futarasan Shrine and Renoji Temple I was one of the first visitors that morning and as I arrived a monk had just begun making his rounds blessing the different areas of the temple grounds Heat Heat [Music] [Music] Time [Music] I don’t know why I got so emotional during that visit to this temple right here I don’t know if it was cuz I came during a time when like a priest was going around blessing everything and just being in this time where the world is just a little wild right now Just being in a place that just is so peaceful You just hear the birds chirping their sakura leaves falling This was a really great way to end the trip I’m looking forward to getting some coffee and some food And now I head back to Tokyo But I hope you guys enjoyed this video and coming along exploring Nico with me I hope you guys make it out here It really is beautiful and I really do hope that I get to come out here again and maybe relax a bit more do an onsen So yeah All right Well I will see you guys next time Bye I thought the video was going to end there but I ended up stumbling across a few cozy spots for coffee and breakfast that I just had to share First was a cafe with lake view seating and a latte that not only tasted amazing but also came with the cutest design in the froth Then back near the station I popped into one last cafe to sit and read for a bit while waiting for my train back to Tokyo I hope you enjoyed tagging along on this Nikico adventure and that you found a few new places to add to your own itinerary For more tips like how to get here by train or a breakdown of the full trip you can check out my Nikico travel guide which I’ve linked in the video description And don’t forget to check out my next Nico video which has a more unfiltered look back on how day one of this trip went Thanks again for watching and until next time [Music]

Planning a trip to Japan? Located just a few hours from Tokyo, Nikko is a great place to add to your Japan travel itinerary. It’s an area that’s not only naturally beautiful but also seeps with rich history and culture. In this video, you’ll come with me on a solo adventure out of Tokyo to Nikko.

You’ll get my 2-day Nikko travel itinerary filled with Japan travel tips, things to do, places to eat, and more! I hope you enjoy it! #japantravel #japanvlog

➡️ Find more detailed travel tips and my full Nikko itinerary here: https://lifestylebyremi.com/2-day-nikko-japan-travel-itinerary/

MORE JAPAN TRAVEL TIPS
🤍 What to Book Before Your Trip to Japan (+ FREE Japan Travel Checklist): https://lifestylebyremi.com/what-to-book-in-advance-japan/
🤍 How to Buy Tickets to Popular Japan Attractions: https://lifestylebyremi.com/how-to-buy-tickets-popular-japan-attractions/
🤍 Luggage Delivery in Japan: Your Ultimate Guide for Stress-Free Travel: https://lifestylebyremi.com/japan-luggage-delivery-service-luggagent/
🤍 Japan Rail Pass Guide: https://lifestylebyremi.com/japan-rail-pass/
🤍 What to Know about Oversized Luggage on the Shinkansen: https://lifestylebyremi.com/shinkansen-oversized-luggage/
📗 EKI STAMP BOOK: https://lifestylebyremi.com/shop/

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Nikko First Impressions
01:21 – Using the Nikko World Heritage Bus
01:50 – 📍Nikko Toshogu Shrine
04:37 – 📍Futarasan Shrine
08:22 – 📍Rinnoji Temple
09:08 – 📍Shinkyo Bridge
09:26 – Food, Shopping & Eki Stamps
12:12 – 📍Kegon Waterfalls
13:38 -📍Lake Chuzenji
14:25 – 📍Chuzenji Temple
16:18 – Final Thoughts & Cozy Cafes

WATCH NEXT
➡️ Japan Travel Checklist: Don’t Miss These Essentials! 🇯🇵: https://youtu.be/6gUJ0yF2dl8
➡️ Japan Travel Series Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbJWnWXUybyKxNRF0EqYZD0MmQZGlgVYq

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👩🏻‍💻 Are you planning a trip to Japan? Learn what you need to book BEFORE going to Japan (+HOW to book) here: https://lifestylebyremi.com/what-to-book-in-advance-japan/

✅ Get a FREE “Japan Travel Checklist”: https://pages.lifestylebyremi.com/japantravelchecklist

✅ Download a FREE “Essentials Japan Travel Phrases” PDF: https://pages.lifestylebyremi.com/japantravelphrases

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