Hiking in the Nikko National Park (Oku Nikko) is generally done from April through November, there is significant snowfall in winter.

Hi Zac. If you don't need to go into Asakusa specifically I'd consider using Kita-Senju station to join the Tobu line rather than going into Asakusa. Something like:

At the lake there is a trail that goes all the way around, I think it was about 25 km and we didn't have the time or gear to do that. I walked smaller sections from near where we stayed and from the piers on the boat trip, from the remoteness we could see on the cruise it would have been beautiful to see further around on foot.

Did you do any of the trails at Lake Chuzenji?

Many thanks in advance

Hi Aaron, you can see photos of the resort, onsen, river trip, station and restaurants from our trip in the Kinugawa Onsen article, I loved the area but it's almost 3 years since we were last in Japan and we won't return until true independent travel is available as an option, organised tours and agent booked itineraries aren't something we enjoy. I don't know what the negative comments were but a lot may have changed in almost 3 years without tourism, for areas like Hakone and Kinugawa Onsen it's not just the international travellers these regions have been missing, they were extremely popular with domestic travellers and that has been significantly restricted too so I can see how they may have struggled.

We are considering staying at Kinugawa Onsen but have reads lots of negativity online about it being derelict and abandoned. What was your impression? And have you heard how it's faring post covid?

Cheers

-ab

Hi Jo, if you are spending the time in Nikko around the World Heritage area then the buses locally aren't expensive. It's only about 2 km from the train station to the main temples, the day pass for the bus around that part was around Y500. If you are heading to the more remote parts of Nikko, such as the lake and onsen areas then a 2-day bus pass for the extended region was Y2000. If you aren't using the return train fare to Tokyo you don't need the passes. Have fun.

I see from your above response re the Nikko pass is possibly pointless as in value if the round trip from Tokyo is not part of using the pass. We will have a JR rail Pass. 2 nights in Nikko is planned at the end of our 25 day trip to Japan, and we will have traveled from Sendai to get to Nikko - I haven't finalised accommodation as yet - then from Nikko we head to Tokyo to start the return journey back to Brisbane. And this day is the final 21st day of the rail pass. Do you have more information about the transport facilities and whether just paying for individual bus trips to get around to the sights is not OTT cost wise. A Nikko All areas pass appears to be around $58 AUD pp and we would need 2 making it exy transport if the local buses are not very expensive for each individual journey we might take. I have no idea how tricky it is to get around...lots of walking I suspect. Any help or advice greatly appreciated.
Regards once again.
Jo Keleher

Hi Ronee, the passes mention include the return train fare from Tokyo to Nikko so if you aren't going to use that part then they probably won't be great value for you. I believe at the station you can purchase the day pass for the bus if you will be going further afield, if you are only doing the heritage area then you can walk from the station or just pay the fares on the bus for those.