# Nikko > Nikko’s autumn leaves turn in two stages about 700 metres apart in altitude: Lake Chuzenji and the Irohazaka road peak in mid to late October, and the shrine town below follows in early November. This page as HTML: https://www.komorebis.cc/destinations/nikko - Coordinates: 36.75, 139.61 - Nearest airport: HND The town is built around the Toshogu shrine, the mausoleum of the first Tokugawa shogun, covered in carved and lacquered gold — along with Futarasan Shrine and Rinno-ji temple it is a World Heritage site. Toshogu is also the strictest place on this page: no tripods, no photography inside the halls, and the Yomeimon gate is busy from opening. The vermilion Shinkyo Bridge at the entrance to the shrine area is the town’s signature frame, seen free from the road bridge beside it or crossed for a fee. Above the town, the Irohazaka hairpin roads climb to Lake Chuzenji at about 1,270 m, with the 97 m Kegon Falls dropping from its outlet. In October this is one of the busiest roads in eastern Japan, and weekend traffic can add an hour, so autumn shoots up the mountain start before 07:00. The area lies within Nikko National Park; the shrines and temples ban drones, and aerial work is limited to private land such as a Kinugawa or Chuzenji hotel with owner consent and MLIT approval. ## When to go Cherry blossom reaches the town in mid to late April and Lake Chuzenji in early May. June and early July bring rain that makes the cedar avenues and moss deep green. The leaves turn from early October at the high moors, mid to late October at Irohazaka and the lake, and early November in town. Winter is cold, with snow in short spells in town from December to February and more reliable snow up at the lake. - **Cherry blossom**: Mid to late April in town; early May at Lake Chuzenji - **Autumn leaves**: Mid to late October at Irohazaka and the lake; early November in town - **Snow**: December–February, in short spells in town and more reliably at Lake Chuzenji ## Getting there The Tobu limited express Spacia X and Spacia run from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko in about 1 h 50 min. By JR, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya (about 50 minutes) and the JR Nikko Line (about 45 minutes). Buses from the station reach Shinkyo in five minutes and Lake Chuzenji in about 45–50 minutes without autumn traffic. ## Kimono A small number of rental shops operate near Tobu-Nikko Station and the shrine area, with fewer sizes and colours than Tokyo or Kyoto; book early for October weekends. Toshogu’s gravel paths and steep stone steps are hard in zori, so we plan the route with as few stairs as possible. October mornings are around 5–10 °C, and a haori jacket helps. ## Rules on location Inside Toshogu, photography is not allowed in the halls or of certain treasures, tripods are banned throughout, and pre-wedding shoots need prior application with the shrine. Kanmangafuchi’s Jizo statues are a place of prayer — no sitting on or touching them, and no hats put on them for laughs. At Shinkyo Bridge, crossing is ticketed and limited to the marked section. ## Drone Only on private land or at a venue, with an MLIT application filed ten or more business days ahead. ## Photo spots ### Shinkyo Bridge - Coordinates: 36.7536, 139.6033 - Best time: Early morning, or rainy days for mist - Access and permits: Free to view from the road bridge; crossing about ¥300 A lacquered vermilion bridge over the Daiya River at the entrance to the shrine area. The classic frame is from the modern road bridge downstream, with the river below and the forested slope behind. In autumn the maples on the bank turn in early November. - **Early November**: Maples on the riverbank peak; the bridge is shaded until about 09:00, which keeps the vermilion even. - **January–February**: After snowfall the bridge sits red against white banks; roads in town are cleared by mid-morning. ### Nikko Toshogu - Coordinates: 36.7579, 139.5988 - Best time: Opening time (about 08:00–09:00) - Access and permits: About ¥1,600 per adult; no tripods; no photography inside halls Gilded gates, carved panels and a five-storey pagoda in a forest of tall cedars. The Yomeimon gate is the showpiece; the stone-lantern rows and the cedar-lined approach outside the paid area are calmer for portraits. Coach groups arrive from about 10:00. ### Kanmangafuchi Abyss and Jizo statues - Coordinates: 36.7487, 139.5904 - Best time: Morning or overcast days - Access and permits: Free A riverside path along a lava gorge lined with some 70 stone Jizo wearing red caps and bibs, about 20 minutes’ walk from Shinkyo. Moss and shade make it a quiet, contemplative backdrop; it suits solo portraits and kimono better than group shots. ### Akechidaira and the Irohazaka road - Coordinates: 36.7357, 139.5185 - Best time: Before 08:00 in October - Access and permits: Free at the lookout; ropeway about ¥1,000 return The Akechidaira Ropeway lifts you to a deck looking over Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls and Mt Nantai in one view. The hairpin roads below turn red and orange in mid to late October, and the ropeway queue grows with the traffic. ### Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenji - Coordinates: 36.7381, 139.5014 - Best time: Morning, when the falls catch sun - Access and permits: Upper viewpoint free; elevator to the lower deck about ¥570 A 97 m waterfall dropping from the outlet of Lake Chuzenji, seen from a deck reached by an elevator through the rock. The lakeshore beyond has the former Italian and British embassy villas, wooden summer houses that make a calm portrait backdrop. ## Covered at no travel charge Nikko town, Toshogu area, Lake Chuzenji, Irohazaka, Senjogahara, Kinugawa Onsen, Okunikko ## Popular here - [Autumn leaves photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/autumn-leaves-photoshoot.md) — from $260; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Kimono photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/kimono-photoshoot.md) — from $260; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Couple photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/couple-photoshoot.md) — from $220; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Japan photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/japan-photoshoot.md) — from $220; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Snow photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/snow-photoshoot.md) — from $330; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Travel film](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/travel-film.md) — from $430; 30–45 s film + 15 s vertical cut within 7 days - [Solo travel photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/solo-travel.md) — from $195; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Family photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/family-vacation.md) — from $220; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Property & resort drone](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/property-drone.md) — from $730; 15 edited photos and 45 s aerial film within 10 days ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Nikko a day trip from Tokyo? For the town and Toshogu, yes: take a 07:00-ish train from Asakusa and you are shooting by 09:30. For the lake and Irohazaka in October, stay a night — the mountain road is best before the traffic, which a day trip cannot beat. ### Can we do a pre-wedding shoot at Toshogu? Only with an application to the shrine, which may be refused or limited to certain areas and hours. We apply when booking; if it is declined, Shinkyo from the road bridge, Kanmangafuchi and the lakeshore villas work without a permit. ### When exactly do the leaves peak? It shifts by a week or so each year. As a rule: Senjogahara in early October, Irohazaka and the lake in mid to late October, and the town in early November. We check the local leaf reports in the fortnight before your date. --- Komorebi · https://www.komorebis.cc