Nikko and Yumoto Onsen walking tour, Japan
Highlights
Nikko | Nikko National Park | Onsen walking trails | Oku Nikko | Nikko Yumoto Onsen | Oku Nikko Plains | Mount Mitsudake | Mount OroguraDescription of Nikko and Yumoto Onsen walking tour, Japan
Nikko National Park is just 125km from Tokyo in the Tochigi Prefecture where, after a quick train ride from the busy metropolis, you will discover a stunning mountainous landscape, with ancient villages and UNESCO protected ancient heritage. This heritage dates back to the rule of Ieyasu, first Shogun of the Tokugawa clan in the 1600’s. And your starting point of Nikko town is home to mausoleum with a shrine that is said to be Japan’s most decorative.Nikko town is gateway to the national park, where you can walk through the tranquil Oku Nikko plains, with views of Mount Mitsudake and Mount Orogura. Discover trails through ancient forests with secret waterfall spots such as Ryuzu and Yudaki Falls, or walk along the peaceful Yukawa River.
Following this itinerary, you spend three nights at traditional Japanese inns, all with their own onsen hot spring baths, such as at Nikko Yumoto Onsen, a village famous for its proliferation of hot springs.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comDeparture information
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The Impacts of this Trip
With rapidly-growing numbers of overseas visitors to Japan, we believe it is vital to encourage exploration of rural communities, lessening the crowding at major urban tourist sites and spreading the economic benefits of tourism more widely. We promote travels to often visit the lesser-known (but equally enchanting) areas of the countries we visit, and this helps to spread the economic benefit of tourism more evenly. With a focus on Nikko’s UNESCO area, this self-guided walking tour features stays in small, family-run hot-spring Ryokan inns, supporting local communities and fostering genuine interaction between local populations and visitors. Encouraging economic activity in the community means that their society and culture can endure, too. This is particularly important for rural areas of Japan, which faced decades of decline and depopulation as younger people moved away to the cities like Tokyo. There are now welcome signs that this tide has started to turn. Bringing visitors to rural and remote communities, such as the Nikko area, helps sustain their economic viability.



The Impacts of this Trip
With rapidly-growing numbers of overseas visitors to Japan, we believe it is vital to encourage exploration of rural communities, lessening the crowding at major urban tourist sites and spreading the economic benefits of tourism more widely. We promote travels to often visit the lesser-known (but equally enchanting) areas of the countries we visit, and this helps to spread the economic benefit of tourism more evenly. With a focus on Nikko’s UNESCO area, this self-guided walking tour features stays in small, family-run hot-spring Ryokan inns, supporting local communities and fostering genuine interaction between local populations and visitors. Encouraging economic activity in the community means that their society and culture can endure, too. This is particularly important for rural areas of Japan, which faced decades of decline and depopulation as younger people moved away to the cities like Tokyo. There are now welcome signs that this tide has started to turn. Bringing visitors to rural and remote communities, such as the Nikko area, helps sustain their economic viability.

2 Reviews of Nikko and Yumoto Onsen walking tour, Japan
Reviewed on 16 Aug 2018 by Babette Braun
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking for days with seeing hardly anybody, only wonderful nature. And the amazing food in the local inns.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don´t hesitate to do this on your own, it´s perfectly safe and very well sign-posted.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All the local inn owners commented on the good cooperation they enjoy with the operator, the food was local (i.e. fish from the river next door to the inn),
recycling and waste reduction was pointed out everywhere.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A great experience, ten out of ten!
Reviewed on 13 Apr 2018 by Prue Thimbleby
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Hard to choose the most memorable moment. Bathing naked in hot spring
under the stars. Walking snow packed paths, through the mountains.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Follow the advice and you will have a great time!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely supported local people and relied on walking and public transport(which was really easy to navigate).
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had an amazing experience and the people at the inns couldn’t have been more kind and helpful.
Read the operator's response here:
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