Nikko Transportation

For JR pass holders travelling to Nikko from Tokyo, the best way to get to Nikko is to get the Shinkansen as far as Utsunomiya, and then transfer to the Nikko line from there.

Utsunomiya is around 50 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, and Nikko is a further 40 minutes from Utsunomiya on the Nikko line.

The way to get to Nikko is by train from Tokyo. We bought a World Heritage Pass for 3600 YEN that included the return train ride to Nikko on the TOBU line and all the admission prices to all the sites. This pass also included the World Heritage Bus that takes you all the sites also. We bought the pass at the Tourist Information Center at Tokyo Station. The ride is about 2 1/2 hrs from the Asakusa station in Northern Tokyo. Once at Nikko all you have to do is cross the street and jump on the World Heritage Bus and take a ride to the sites. Once at the site you present your ticket at any of the 5 sites included and they exchange this for the individual ticket sites. 5 sites are included ... All the major sites in Nikko .. The Rinno-Ji Temple, Tosho-gu Shrine, Taiyuin-byo Shrine, Futara-san Shrine, and the Honji-do building. Take a good travel book with you because little signage is available, so you can read what you are seeing.

Seishun 18 kippu can be available only in spring, summer and winter holiday. Cost 2300 yen for 1 day trip using local JR train.
I use the ticket, from Tokyo station (6.50) to Nikko (9.54) via Utsunomiya. You can search the schedule by yourself.

To get the best out of your trip to Nikko and surrounding area, I would recommend the All Nikko Pass. It is a pass that is valid for 4 days and includes a round-trip train ride from Tokyo Asakusa Tobu Station to Tobu Nikko Station. It also includes all forms of transportation on the Tobu Bus within Nikko, Lake Chuzenji, Yumoto Onsen and Kinugawa Onsen area. You can reserve your All Nikko Pass online one month before your intended date of travel including reserving your seats on the Spacia Limited Express train.

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The Tobu train company offers a varieties of train and bus passes that take you from Tokyo (Asakusa) to Nikko and the area beyond. It really is a good deal if you are spending at least a couple of days there. There is so muuh to see in that area, with lots of outdoor activities. With the pass, you can board a Tobu bus and stop anywhere you like. The ride up to Yumoto Onsen, for example, is already over 1000 yen.

Make sure you get into the right car in Asakusa station, with the destination "Nikko" clearly indicated on the side of the train, as well as inside. As they take some cars out beyond a certain point.

If you are planning for a same day return trip, you can buy the one-way ticket, at the station. Or get discounted ticket from the discounted ticket shops. There is a few in front of Shinjuku station.

Took the special express train (1 hour 45 minutes) from Asakusa station, via Utsunomiya to Nikko using Tobu line. Get a bento to eat in the train.

Alternatively, you can take a day bus tour from Tokyo.

The easist way to get to Nikko from Tokyo is an express train of Tobu Railway, named SPACIA. Though the train is narrow gauge despite its name, the seats are comfortable.
SPACIA is a generic name for limited express trains of Tobu. Actual trains are named Kegon or Kinu depending on its destination.
Fare: From Asakusa to Nikko, 1320 yen (transportation fare) + 1300 yen (express fare). Express far is 1400 yen on weekends and 1000 yen at night. A compartment for 4 adults costs extra 3000 yen (3600 yen for weekends).

Nikko can be reached by Tobu Railways or Japan Railways (JR).

Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (from Tokyo or Ueno Station) to Utsunomiya Station, where you transfer to the JR Nikko Line. With a good connection at Utsunomiya, the one way trip takes about 100 minutes and costs around 5000 Yen (subject to change).

We took the JR train because we were travelling on a JR Rail Pass. If you don't have the pass, taking the JR option is more expensive. It is only a good option for those that have the JR Rail Pass. If not, I will recommend taking the Tobu line (see next transport tip)