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Autumn maples in red and gold above Ryuzu Falls on the Nikko plateau

Nikko

Nikko autumn foliage scenic tour

Best late October to mid November

Duration
11 hrs
Group size
1 to 6 guests
Transport
Private vehicle
Pickup
Your hotel
Price
From $430 / group

For three weeks a year the Nikko plateau turns completely. This day skips most of the shrine district and spends the time above 1,200 metres, where the maples and larch change first.

Timing matters more than anything else. We watch the colour reports and move your start time earlier when the leaves peak early, so you are on Irohazaka before the queue forms.

Hour by hour

The day, stop by stop

  1. 06:30

    Early pickup in Tokyo

    Earlier than our standard Nikko day, specifically to beat the foliage traffic.

  2. 09:00

    Irohazaka ascent

    Forty-eight hairpins through colour, with a stop at Akechidaira viewpoint.

  3. 09:45

    Akechidaira ropeway

    Five minutes up to a terrace looking over the valley and Kegon Falls.

  4. 10:45

    Ryuzu Falls

    The dragon's head cascade, framed by maples that turn a week before the rest of the plateau.

  5. 11:45

    Senjogahara plateau boardwalk

    A flat wooden trail across the marsh. Walk twenty minutes or ninety, as you like.

  6. 13:00

    Lunch by Lake Chuzenji

    A lakeside restaurant with a window table booked ahead.

  7. 14:30

    Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls

    The shoreline walk and the falls platform in the afternoon light.

  8. 16:00

    Descent and return to Tokyo

    Back at your hotel by around 19:00.

Where you'll go

The places on this day

Included

  • Private vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide
  • Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off in the pickup area
  • Fuel, tolls, parking and driver expenses
  • Bottled water on board
  • Itinerary planning before the day, including dietary and prayer needs

Not included

  • Meals and drinks, unless listed in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees to shrines, museums and observation decks
  • Personal shopping
  • Gratuities, which are never expected
  • Travel insurance
  • Ropeway and lift tickets

Good to know

Season

Best late October to mid November. Outside that window we recommend the Toshogu and Kegon Falls day instead.

Walking level

Moderate. The boardwalk is flat and can be as short as you like.

Weather

Cold on the plateau in late autumn, often near freezing at the start of the day.

Questions about this tour

When exactly does the colour peak?
The plateau usually peaks in the last week of October, the town in the second week of November. We will tell you honestly which week suits your dates.
What if we book and the colour is late?
We shift the route down the mountain to wherever the colour actually is, which is why the day starts high and ends low.
Is the boardwalk accessible?
It is flat and wide, but it has no handrail for most of its length. Wheelchairs manage the first section comfortably.

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From $430 / group

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