Culinary Adventures in Nikko : What to Eat
Nikko is best known for its World Heritage site, shrines and temples, and stunning scenic beauty of the surrounding mountains. However Nikko and Tochigi prefecture can also offer a lot in terms of foods, drink, and local specialities known as ’Meibetsu’ in Japan. We have created this page for all the foodie fans out there to give you some top recommendations on what you should try during your trip to Nikko. On this page you will find the following information :
— How to Spend 48 Hours in Japan’s Historic City
— 20 Best Things to Do In & Around Nikko
— Where to Stay In & Around Nikko
WHERE IS NIKKO?
WHAT TO EAT IN NIKKO
Nikko and Tochigi prefecture where the city is based are both known for their culinary heritage and dishes. When visiting we highly recommend trying some of the regional specialities that will make any foodie lover happy! We have compiled a list of our top recommendations to try out so that you can make the most of your time in Nikko and feel a deeper connection to the local food scene and culture.
1 / Yuba
Yuba is probably one of Nikko’s and Tochigi’s most famous local specialities. Yuba is tofu skin, and comes in many forms and in many dishes. It is made from the skin that forms on the surface when soy milk is boiled, and is a great option for vegans, vegetarians or anybody who wants to give this delicious dish a try! You can enjoy Yuba fresh, but we highly recommend it tried in dishes combining other elements of Japanese cuisine such as Yuba Ramen, Yuba Tempura, or Yuba Oyakodon – a rice bowl dish with chicken, egg and Yuba. You can even enjoy Yuba Manju – a sweet red bean dumpling with the delightful pairing of slightly salty Yuba, or dried Yuba crisps! They come in many flavours such as seaweed, salted and curry.
2 / Nikko Soba
Soba is a Buckwheat based noodle, and it is a perfect dish for those with wheat intolerances when visiting Japan. Due to Nikko’s beautifully clear and cold mountain water, the area produces some of the best and highest quality soba in Japan! Nikko Soba is served both hot and cold. Cold Soba makes for a perfectly refreshing dish during the warmer months. Soba is usually accompanied by a dipping sauce called ’Zaru Soba’, spring onions, seaweed and radish. Hot soba dishes are comforting in the winter months, and are often paired with a hot broth!
3 / Tochigi Wagyu Beef
Tochigi is known for Tochigi Wagyu Beef, a deliciously tender and prime cut of beef sure to leave your mouth watering. You can enjoy Wagyu in many forms and dishes such as steak, Sukiyaki (a beer rice bowl) and even Shabu-Shabu (a hot pot where you cook thin stripes of beef and enjoy alongside vegetables, rice and difference sauces). Wagyu is so popular in Tochigi that you can even buy Wagyu flavoured crisps!
4 / Strawberry and Lemon
Tochigi is very famous for its farming and production of strawberries, and supplies Japan with some of the highest quality strawberries you will find. For this reason, you will easily stumble across many strawberry flavoured items ranging from cakes, mmocha, cookies, gummies and even curry! Similar to this, Tochigi is also famous for the production of ’Lemon Milk’. This is a popular confectionary that has been produced in Tochigi since 1952. You will find items such as drinks, lemon cream filled cookies, cakes and curry in cute retro style packaging!
5 / Nikko Traditional Tea Sets and Sweets
Nikko is steeped in history and traditional culture, and because of this you will find many cafes and establishments offering traditional Matcha and sweet sets! This is highly popular way to spend your time across all of Japan, but Nikko’s mountainous and spiritual atmosphere make it a special place to relax and feel closer to the Country’s heritage. Nikko is very famous for its Yokan production. Yokan is a sweet smooth in texture, made from agar and red bean paste. It is shaped into small rectangles, and is the perfect pairing with the slight bitterness of Matcha. Nikko’s Yokan was said to have been created as a souvenir for the many pilgrims that visited the area’s shrines and temples. Our top two cafes we recommend trying traditional tea and sweet sets at are Hongu Cafe and Tamozawa Imperial Villa’s cafe!
HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN JAPAN’S HISTORIC CITY
The historic and mountainous landscape of Nikko is home to some amazing scenery and culturally rich attractions. Most famous for its UNESCO World Heritage status, National Park and for being an Onsen (Hot Spring) resort area, you can have a well balanced stay of relaxation, culture and nature. Two days is a perfect amount of time to spend in Nikko to do some exploring and see most of what Nikko can offer you. To help you navigate the tricky question of how you should spend your short time wisely in Nikko, we have an itinerary suitable for a 48 hour stay. Check out our ’Two Days in Nikko : How to Spend 48 Hours in Japan’s Historic City’ page for more information. We hope this page will give you the inspiration you need!
20 BEST THINGS TO DO IN & AROUND NIKKO
For many international visitors to Japan, Nikko is one of their ‘must-visit’ destinations thanks for the 17th century shrines and temples that are arguably the most beautiful historic buildings in the country. Spread across the Shinto shrines complexes of the ‘Toshogu’ and ‘Futarasan’ and the Buddhist temple complex of ‘Rinno-ji’, the Nikko shrine and temple complex comprises one hundred and three religious buildings set amongst a splendid natural setting. The main buildings of interest lie within an area of a couple of kilometres, making them easy to access on-foot or using frequent bus services that loop around the main sites. It is a destination that can be enjoyed all-year-round as each season highlights the beauty of the complex in a different manner. Indeed, while the shrines and temples are what draws most visitors to Nikko, once there you’ll discover a beautiful region of natural landscapes including waterfalls, gorges, hiking trails and hot spring towns worth taking time to enjoy over multiple days. Check out our ’20 Things to Do Around Nikko’ page to discover many of the wonderful attractions Nikko has to offer.
If you feel inspired to visit Nikko, join our ’1 Day Tour : Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park’ tour which visits many of the attractions and sites mentioned above, and is a well balanced tour of both the Heritage site and nature spots!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour : Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park | |
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| Period | April – October |
| Time | 08:40 – 19:15 |
| Meeting Place | Outside Asakusa Ekimise Department Store |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥18,900 |
WHERE TO STAY IN & AROUND NIKKO
The World Heritage-listing of the Nikko shrine and temple complex ensures that it attracts millions of visitor each year. With that, there is plenty of accommodation to choose from in the centre of Nikko town with just as much in the surrounding areas and hot spring towns. Thanks to its elevation, the area has long been used as a place of retreat from the summer heat and humidity of Tokyo, and to this day Nikko boasts some of Japan’s oldest and best Meiji Period hotels and other accommodation. Check out our ’Nikko – Where to Stay’ page for more information!
GETTING TO & AROUND NIKKO
Nikko sits around 160km / 2 hours to the north of Tokyo and is easy to get to using train services running from the capital and other locations. Once in Nikko, bus services operate to and from the most popular destinations with the ‘Nikko Pass All area’ available to visitors. For complete information, see our ‘How to Get to Nikko’ page.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO JAPAN
Heading to Nikko using the rail system is quick, easy and comfortable. Unfathomable in its size and efficiency, moving around the country by train opens-up all regions of Japan for exploration. Our ‘Plan Your Visit’ page has everything you need to know about visiting Japan – from tips on the best time to travel, times to avoid, entering and exiting the country, money matters, staying connected, accommodation, staying safe and healthy and plenty more to ensure that you get the most out of your time here.
