Fall Foliage And New Express Train Make Nikko A Hot Asian Destination

21.10.2023 - 04:27 / forbes.com / Express

The bright red and yellow maple leaves have started to fall in Nikko, one of Japan's most scenic but elusive destinations.

Nikko checks a lot of boxes on a visitor's list, from UNESCO World Heritage temples and shrines to its famous Lake Chuzenji, to its legendary onsen thermal baths. But it's a little less difficult and more comfortable to reach after the debut late this summer of the new luxury limited express train, Spacia X, which whisks you from Tokyo to Nikko in about two hours (fares start at less than $25).

The train has opened new possibilities, cementing Nikko's status as one of Japan's most sought-after autumn destinations.

"Nikko is picturesque," says David Doughty, a frequent traveler to Japan. "It offers a more serene and traditional Japanese experience, and this is one of the best times to visit."

Nikko, which is best known for its historic Toshogu shrine, isn't marketing itself to North American visitors as an alternative to Tokyo. It can't compete with the urban energy of Japan's capital. But with rapid connections from the big city, Nikko is fast becoming a favorite overnight destination. And it has some things you're unlikely to find in Japan's urban areas, including national parks with breathtaking waterfalls and seemingly endless hiking trails.

Nikko also has a variety of lodging options, thanks to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which saw renovations, upgrades and new hotel openings. For example:

The pace in Nikko is a little slower and more contemplative than in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka. During the fall, as the weather begins to cool down, it shows a different side of Japan from the one most Americans are used to seeing. Doughty, who runs a private jet charter company, loves to travel to Nikko in late October to take pictures of the leaves near the temples and in the nearby national park.

While there's plenty to see in Nikko, the main attraction is the world-famous Nikko Toshogu shrine. The Shinto shrine, located on a hillside in Nikko, dates back to 1616. It was built to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of Japan's Tokugawa Shogunate.

The Nikko Toshogu shrine is a series of buildings featuring carvings of animals and intricate patterns that become more elaborate and ornate as you climb the hill. Recently restored to its former glory, the shrine is one of the most Instagrammable places in all of Japan at any time of the year. But during fall, it becomes even more picturesque, and the shutterbugs are everywhere.

UNESCO's designation for Nikko's shrines and temples applies to a single complex of 103 religious buildings within two Shinto shrines, the Toshogu and The Futarasan-jinja, as well as one Buddhist temple, the Rinno-ji. For visitors in October, November and