Tokyo to Nikko by Car: Route, Onsen Stays and Winter Tips

Route and drive time from Haneda to Nikko

Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture combines World Heritage shrines and temples, hot springs and mountain scenery, which makes it a popular drive from Tokyo. From Haneda Airport you can link expressways almost the whole way, so you hardly need to drive on Tokyo's surface streets. Times below assume no heavy traffic.

Weekends, public holidays and the New Year period can take longer. Expressway tolls are not included in the rental price and are paid by you; see our expressway tolls and ETC guide for how to pay, and ask us about an ETC card before you set off.

The World Heritage "Shrines and Temples of Nikko"

According to Nikko City, the "Shrines and Temples of Nikko" were inscribed as a World Heritage Site on 4 December 1999. The site covers Futarasan Shrine, Toshogu and Rinnoji, known as "two shrines and one temple", with 103 buildings in total: 9 National Treasures and 94 Important Cultural Properties.

Toshogu is open 9:00 to 16:00 in winter (1 November to 31 March) and 9:00 to 17:00 in summer (1 April to 31 October); admission ends 30 minutes before closing. Admission is 1,600 yen for adults and high school students and 550 yen for elementary and junior high school students (as of November 2026, Toshogu official). Closing is early in winter, so you will have more time if you visit the shrines and temples from the morning to early afternoon.

Kinugawa Onsen and other hot springs

Head north from Imaichi IC on the Nikko-Utsunomiya Road to reach Kinugawa Onsen. Staying there after the shrines and temples makes day 2 easy. There are also hot spring towns around Lake Chuzenji and Oku-Nikko at the top of the Irohazaka road. When booking accommodation, check whether it has parking.

Irohazaka and road conditions in winter

Irohazaka is the road between central Nikko and Lake Chuzenji. The First Irohazaka is downhill only and the Second Irohazaka is uphill only; together they have 48 hairpin bends and climb about 440 m (Nikko Tourism Association).

Winter points to know (official information as of November 2026):

• According to the Nikko Tourism Association, Irohazaka is cleared quickly after snowfall and is basically not closed in winter. However, it asks drivers to bring winter tyres or chains.
• Nikko City asks drivers to fit winter tyres from late autumn to early spring in Oku-Nikko beyond Irohazaka (Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, Yumoto Onsen and so on), in the Fujiwara area including Kinugawa Onsen and Kawaji Onsen, and in the Kuriyama area. It notes that roads can freeze even without snowfall.
• Irohazaka can be heavily congested over the New Year and long weekends.

Go on Rent-a-Car's terms prohibit driving on snowy roads without our prior consent. Snowy roads require winter tyres. If you plan to go to Nikko or Kinugawa between December and February, contact us before booking with your destination and dates, and we will let you know whether winter tyres can be arranged. If snow or ice is forecast, change your plans, for example by staying in central Nikko and not going above Irohazaka. The basics of winter driving are in our winter driving guide.

Add the Honda Collection Hall

The Honda Collection Hall at Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi, is within reach of Nikko. According to the official site, you only pay Mobility Resort Motegi admission and parking; there is no extra charge for the hall. Check opening days and hours on the official calendar. From the Tohoku Expressway, the official site directs you to Moka IC on the Kita-Kanto Expressway.

Our terms prohibit use for competition or testing, including circuit driving. Please enjoy the circuit as a visitor only.

For other car museums, see our car museums guide.

Sample 2-day trip from Haneda

A day trip is possible, but it means more than 4 hours of driving there and back, and Toshogu closes early at 16:00 in winter, so 2 days / 1 night is more comfortable. For refuelling before return, see our refuelling guide; for other route combinations, try our Tokyo road trip planner.

To Nikko with Go on Rent-a-Car

The car is a Volkswagen Golf Variant TSI Lounge (5 seats, automatic, premium petrol). Prices start from 14,650 yen per day (tax and the Peace of Mind Pack included) and can vary by date; check the site for your dates. Pick-up and return are on the 8th floor of the P5 car park at Haneda Airport Terminal 3, 9:00-20:00, and you can book up to 48 hours before pick-up. For winter trips to Nikko, contact us first, then book at Haneda to check availability.