Mike M.
Yelp
We were advised that a day trip to Nikko was a must to break up the craziness of visiting Tokyo. Nikko is a 2 1/2 hour train ride out of a Tokyo and can easily be made into a day trip, overnight or weekend getaway. For So. Cal. folks, think Blue Jay, with Lake Chuzenjiko being Big Bear. When you get to Nikko train station, you then take a 45 minute bus the rest of the way up the mountain.
We spent no time at all in Nikko and headed up to the lake. This is a truly gorgeous part of the country and the lake sits at 4,163 ft. above seal level. Really a four-season part of Japan. The snow pictures looked exciting and we know there is activity on the lake for summer and cherry blossoms in the spring. We had the good fortune of watching the red, yellow and orange leaves in the fall. Our late October visit rewarded us with temperatures in the low 60's and gorgeous fall colors.
If it's crowded, avoid the ropeway (cablecar) and save the trouble. You'll miss out on the view looking down at the lake but save hours waiting in lines for the cable car and bus. Trust me. Your time is better spent at the lake itself.
Their is an onsen (bathhouse), hotels, lots of restaurants, shops that specialize in wood carving and the beautiful lake. Deer and bears are seen in lots of photos but we spent our time up here on the water taking a 90-min. scenic cruise. The boat ride was cheap and offered amazing views. They also rent motor boats and pedal boats. We saw fishermen in small row boats and sailboats and tents on the beach.
A really special place to unwind from the craziness of Tokyo.
