Once you have seen Toshogu and Kegon Falls, these quieter places show a calmer, more contemplative side of Nikko, away from the busiest of the shrine crowds. Most see a fraction of the visitors of the headline sights.
Nikko's Hidden Gems
1
Hidden Gem
Kanmangafuchi Stone Buddhas
A row of 70-plus moss-covered Jizo statues along a forest ravine, the 'ghost Jizo' you supposedly count differently each time. Hauntingly beautiful in mist.
Kanmangafuchi Abyss
2
Nature
Rinnoji Temple Shoyoen Garden
Rinnoji's Shoyo-en stroll garden, with a pond and borrowed mountain scenery, often overlooked by visitors rushing to Toshogu.
Rinnoji Temple, Nikko
3
Nature
Ryuzu Falls
The 'Dragon's Head' falls north of Lake Chuzenji, less famous than Kegon but just as lovely, with a teahouse at its base.
North of Lake Chuzenji
4
Nature
Nikko Cedar Avenue
Ancient cryptomeria cedars planted in the 1600s, atmospheric in morning mist or light rain and rarely walked end to end.
Approach to Toshogu Shrine
5
Viewpoint
Lake Chuzenji Reflection
A quiet shoreline spot for mirror-like dawn reflections of Mount Nantai, far from the bus-stop crowds at the falls.
Lake Chuzenji shoreline
6Must visit
Shrine4.0
Futarasan Shrine
Nikko's serene mountain shrine, a peaceful, low-cost stop most day-trippers skip in their hurry to Toshogu.
FAQ
- How do I avoid the crowds in Nikko?
- Visit Toshogu at opening time before the Tokyo tour buses arrive from late morning, then spend the afternoon at quieter spots like the Kanmangafuchi Abyss, Futarasan Shrine, and the Rinnoji garden. Weekdays outside autumn peak are far calmer.
- What is the Kanmangafuchi Abyss?
- It is a scenic gorge carved by lava from Mount Nantai, lined with around 70 stone Jizo statues nicknamed the 'ghost Jizo' because legend says their count seems to change. It is free, peaceful, and a 20-minute walk from the main shrines.
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