Private Tokyo, Japan
If you would like to take a break from Tokyo and see a different side of Japan, Nikko makes a wonderful day trip. Located in Tochigi Prefecture, around two hours from the capital, this mountain town is known for its historic shrines, beautiful forests, mountain lakes and waterfalls.
This private day trip takes you from Tokyo to some of Nikko's best-known sights, combining Japanese history with the natural scenery of the surrounding mountains. Travelling in a private van with your own English-speaking guide means you can explore comfortably without worrying about train connections or navigating unfamiliar roads.
We will pick you up from your selected location in Tokyo and head towards Nikko. Our first stop is Shinkyo Bridge, one of the area's most recognisable landmarks. Set above the Daiya River, the striking red bridge stands at the entrance to Nikko's historic shrine district.
From here, we continue to the Nikko Toshogu Art Museum before visiting Toshogu Shrine itself. The shrine is one of Japan's most impressive historical sites and forms part of the UNESCO-listed Shrines and Temples of Nikko. Dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, it is famous for its richly decorated buildings and detailed wood carvings.
Next is Akechidaira, a popular viewpoint overlooking the surrounding landscape. The area is particularly attractive in autumn. If the ropeway is operating, you can take the ride for a closer look at the mountain views. The ropeway ticket is not included.
We then make our way to Lake Chūzenji, a peaceful mountain lake at the foot of Mount Nantai, where there is time to walk around, take photographs or simply enjoy the scenery.
The final major stop is Kegon Falls, one of Japan's most famous waterfalls. Water drops approximately 97 metres from the top of a dramatic rocky cliff. You will have time to visit the viewing areas, take photographs and have a break. Lunch is at your own expense, and there are local options nearby.
After visiting the falls, we begin the journey back to Tokyo, with drop-off at your selected location.
Entry tickets to shrines, museums and attractions are not included, and no meals are included. The total tour duration is approximately 10 hours, including travel time (Land Cruiser option up to 12 hours). This tour is arranged exclusively for your group, with private transportation and an English-speaking guide throughout the journey.
A day away from the city, a glimpse of Japan's history and some of its finest mountain scenery. Join High Sky Travels & Tourism for a private trip to Nikko.
Plan the rest of your Japan trip. If you are also interested in Japan's other day trips from Tokyo, see our private Mount Fuji tour at https://highskytraveltourism.online/tours/tokyo-mount-fuji-private-tour and our Snow Monkey Park day trip at https://highskytraveltourism.online/tours/tokyo-snow-monkey-park-nagano-day-trip Our guide to choosing between them is at https://highskytraveltourism.online/blog/japan-day-trips-from-tokyo-mount-fuji-nagano
Useful background. To learn more about the UNESCO listing that protects Japan's historic sites, visit https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ . For official travel information about Japan, see https://www.japan.travel/en/ .
After booking, you need to send us a WhatsApp message to confirm your reservation.
Questions before you book? Contact our team at https://highskytraveltourism.online/contact or message us on WhatsApp. This Nikko private car day trip from Tokyo brings the Nikko World Heritage shrines, the Irohazaka Winding Road and Kegon Falls into one private day.
Pickup in Tokyo and a private van transfer of about 2 hours to Nikko.
Photo stop, visit and guided tour of Shinkyo Bridge.
Photo stop, visit and sightseeing at Nikko Toshogu Art Museum.
Photo stop, visit and sightseeing at Nikko Toshogu, a UNESCO World Heritage shrine complex.
Photo stop, visit and sightseeing at Akechidaira Ropeway.
Break time, photo stop and visit at Lake Chūzenji.
Break time, photo stop, visit, free time and sightseeing at Kegon Falls. Lunch is at your own expense.
Private van transfer of about 2 hours back to Tokyo.
Stop order and timing can change because of opening hours, prayer times and traffic. Your guide will tell you when it does.
| Option | Type | Price | Group size | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Full-Day Nikko Tour (private air-conditioned vehicle, 1 to 5 people) | Private | USD 375.00 per group (1 to 5 people)Likely to sell out | 1 to 5 people | Book this option |
| Toyota Crown (1 to 3 people) | Private | USD 466.67 per group (1 to 3 people)Likely to sell out | 1 to 3 people | Book this option |
| Premium Toyota Land Cruiser, Extended Tour (1 to 5 people, up to 12 hours) | Private | USD 550.00 per group (1 to 5 people)Likely to sell out | 1 to 5 people | Book this option |
Payment is cash on arrival.
Pickup: Pickup at the point you request, at the start time
Pickup and meeting details for each option are shown in the booking form before you confirm.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. No refunds after that, because payment is made on arrival.
You accept this policy before you confirm your booking.
Cash on arrival is the standard way to pay. PayPal is available on request: message us on WhatsApp or email and we will confirm whether a PayPal payment can be used for your booking. No card details are taken on this website.
Pickup at the point you request, at the start time
English.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. No refunds after that, because payment is made on arrival.
Approximately 10 hours, including hotel pick-up and drop-off in Tokyo. The Land Cruiser option can take up to 12 hours.
Yes. You do not share the van or guide with other guests. The group size is 1 to 5 participants.
No. Entry tickets are not included in this tour, including the Nikko shrines and the Kegon Falls viewing areas. The optional Kegon Falls lower elevator fee is payable on site.
No. No meals are included. Lunch and beverages are at your own expense.
Pickup is in Tokyo. Pickup is available from hotels in Tokyo's 23 wards. Please give your hotel name when you book.
wonderful day, pickup at 6:00 was a very good choice. we see wonderful and peaceful sites. our driver rana is such a friendly and nice person.
Perfect tour, we enjoyed it very much, especially the waterfall in Nikko, it was very beautiful and worth enjoying.our driver was so friendly and nice and knowledgeable.
Our friendly guide rana knew all the short routes and parkings in the neighbourhood of the scenic points. Everything on time...
It was amazing! Driver was so helpful and a wonderful driver and guide! We managed to see an incredible list of places from the top shrines to several beautiful waterfalls! I highly recommend this trip and as your driver/ guide!
Driver was really nice and polite. He took us also to hidden places not in the standard tour. Nikko is really worth it and I would recommend 100% to go on a private tour with this driver
I had an amazing experience with my guide hadi He took me to Nikko for a full day, showing me the waterfalls, temples, and even a special area with Buddhas. He was incredibly kind, spoke excellent English, and also knew Japanese, which helped a lot with ticket prices, entrance details, and understanding what we should do at each place. He also took us to a fantastic restaurant with a beautiful live view of the waterfalls - the food was delicious and very affordable. Throughout the entire tour, he was always willing to adjust the itinerary and make it fit what we wanted to do. The tour was completely flexible, very enjoyable, and truly exceeded expectations. | 100% recommend him!
This private Nikko tour was one of the highlights of our Japan trip. The driver was punctual, courteous, and the vehicle was clean and comfortable throughout the journey. We visited all the major attractions, including Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, and Lake Chuzenji, with enough time to explore and take photos. The scenery was breathtaking, and the flexibility of a private tour made the experience even better. Everything was well organized, stress free, and enjoyable. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to explore Nikko comfortably from Tokyo!
We had a problem along the route due to the rain. The guide did not show us a temple and did not allow us to have lunch, saying that we were late, but then we arrived in Tokyo at 4:30 PM (tour duration 9.5 hours).
Not great. He notified us at 9 pm the day before that he was moving the excursion up one hour, to 6 am. We were told that we had to get to a boat at 9:00 AM. When we arrived, we were alone on the boat, and at 10:00 another one left with very few people. There was no need to get up an hour early. It seems he wanted to return an hour earlier. He didn't explain anything to us about what we were going to do, even though we asked him. He took us on a boat and to some waterfalls that we paid for without knowing what it was, and he only gave us 30 minutes to see the temples. A disaster. Not to be repeated.
Reviews are written by our guests. Our team checks each one before it appears.