Nikko : The Best Souvenirs and Local Crafts to Buy
Nikko is famous not only for its UNESCO Heritage Site, onsen and beautiful nature, but also for its local crafts and unique items that you can buy. From both traditional to the more contemporary, you will find something to suit all preferences which will ensure you pick up some great souvenirs to remember your time in Nikko. We have created this page to give you an overview of the top and most common souvenirs and crafts you can find in Nikko! On this page you will find the following information:
— Nikko: The Best Souvenirs and Local Crafts to Buy
— 20 Best Things to Do In & Around Nikko
— Where to Stay In & Around Nikko
WHERE IS NIKKO?
Nikko is a small city in Tochigi Prefecture, approximately 150KM / 2.5 to 3 hours to the north of Tokyo. Nikko is most famous for its striking Shinto shrines and mausoleums, that commemorate Tokugawa Ieyasu – the founding ruler of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1999, the Nikko shrine and temple complex attracts millions of visitors each year. Nikko and the surrounding region also boasts ‘onsen’ (natural hot spring) towns and the natural attractions of Nikko National Park. For visitors heading to Nikko from Tokyo, it is quick and easy to reach with a range of train services connecting the two – the easiest of which takes just under 2-hours, using the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station and then transferring to the local JR Nikko Line. For full details, see ‘Getting to & Around Nikko’ below.
NIKKO: THE BEST SOUVENIRS AND LOCAL CRAFTS TO BUY
Japan has a rich culture of local crafts and unique souvenirs that differ from prefecture to prefecture, and Tochigi prefecture where Nikko is based, is no exception! Nikko is well known for many things, from wood carvings to speciality foods, pottery to cute mascots! Read on to find out what some of the best and most popular souvenirs are that you will find in Nikko!
1 / ‘Nikko Bori’ – Wood Carving
If you’re visiting any of Nikko’s shrines and temples such as Nikko Toshogu Shrine or Taiyuin Temple, you will see the highly impressive and ornate wooden carvings that adorn these structures! From intricate carvings of flowers and plants, to animals and people, your jaw will drop when you see the detail. Nikko has therefore garnered a reputation over the centuries as being one of the top places in Japan for wood carving and wooden crafts. Alongside Takayama, Nikko is a top contender in this area! Nikko Bori can come in the form of small boxes, mirrors, trays and figurines such as the ones pictured above . Many of the motifs will often feature animals, plants and religious figures symbolising Nikko’s nature and history.
2 / Mashiko Pottery
Tochigi prefecture and Nikko have an excellent reputation for its high quality pottery and ceramics. Known as ’Mashiko’ pottery, it has a legacy spanning over 170 years! The aesthetic and typical characteristics of Mashiko is rustic and earthy, with muted colours. These designs are to reflect the prefecture’s and Nikko’s nature and landscapes, making this a great souvenir for anybody who loves art and nature combined. You will find Mashiko in many forms including tea cups, bowls, plates and even chopstick rests. You will find it stocked in many of the local and independent shops, helping to support the hard working craftmen who make this beautiful pottery. The good news is that it’s very affordable, with each piece usually costing only a few hundred yen!
3 / Specialist Goods For Nikko’s Shrines and Temples
One of the top activities to do when in Nikko is to explore the stunning UNESCO Heritage Site full of some of Japan’s most beautiful and impressive shrines and temples. Due to their popularity, they have become great places to buy unique souvenirs and goods specific to them. One of the most popular of these religious sites is of course Nikko Toshogu Shrine. This is the shrine where the first Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined and buried. It has 55 structures, 42 of which have World Heritage status, and 8 of these have the designation of national treasures including the very famous three wise monkeys and sleeping cat!
Due to their prestigious designation and cute design, the monkeys and cat have become popular icons of Nikko and therefore you can buy many amazing items featuring them! From lucky charms to key chains, wooden figures to socks, and even chopsticks and snacks! If you’re a fan of incense, the shrine also sells its very own brand of incense that it burns in the worship halls! It is quite special to be able to recreate the peaceful and special atmosphere at home when burning it! You can also buy lovely miniature replicas of the temples and shrines which make for adorable souvenirs. Many of our customers love buying items from the shrines and temples during our Nikko tour!
4 / Foods and Snacks
This list would not be complete without of course adding foods and snacks! Prefectures all over Japan are famous for ’Meibetsu’ or local specialities that come in many forms of foods and drinks! Some prefectures have more than one, and Tochigi and Nikko are no exception! 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, mochi, 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! For more traditional style buy items such as Yuba, Soba and Onsen Manju. Yuba is tofu skin which can be bought in many styles including in rolls and even crisps! Onsen Manju are fluffy steamed buns that are usually filled with red sweet bean paste. They get their name due to the fact they are cooked using the geothermal heat from the natural volcanic energy that fuels the onsen in the area! Soba is a buck wheat noodle loved all across Japan, but Nikko has a strong reputation for producing some of the best made with locally grown ingredients. You can buy dried packs of these noodles to take home!
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!
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.
