We booked a full-day private tour to Nikko on 5/30/26 and we had wonderful adventure thanks to our private guide, Masaharu. Since we had only one day in Nikko, Masaharu pick for us amazing highlights of Nikko, such as the various must-see waterfalls and lakes, Toshogu shrine and Rinnoji temple, the sacred bridge. etc. He also took us to a local restaurant for lunch in which all our dishes tasted incredibly fresh and delicious, not to mention the wonderful view and atmosphere. It was such an enjoyable day, starting with Masaharu meeting us at our hotel, showing us how to navigate the subways of Tokyo and an express train to Nikko, hiring a private driver for our tour in Nikko, and escorting us back to Tokyo via the train system. Masaharu is very kind and has incredibly vast knowledge on the history of each of the places we visited. We were able to make the most out of our limited time in Nikko in a enjoyable way, thanks to Masaharu.
Choose a currency
Private tour in Tokyo Masaharu N
Private Nikko Highlights Tour
4.9
(9) reviews
-
10 hours
30 minutes
1
Tour date
-
10 hours
30 minutes
1
Masaharu N.
4.9
Guide rating
443
Reviews
Tours delivered
3 hrs
Avg. response time
Hello, I am Masaharu, the national licensed English speaking tour guide. I was born and brought up in the suburb of Tokyo. After graduating from the university, I worked for a Japanese global logistics company where I had wonderful chances to stay overseas as an expatriate. I have stayed in London three times over fourteen years in total. A long time stay in London enabled me to interact with lots of people from diverse backgrounds and it highly broadened my horizons. Fortunately enough, I have so far visited 38 countries. The invaluable experience helped me deepen my view on a cross cultural comparison between Japan and overseas. Therefore, I am pleased to help you enjoy your stay in Tokyo as my return of the experience I was blessed with. Now, it is my utmost pleasure sharing your precious time with me and satisfying your interest to the best of my ability. How wonderful it is to see you excited! I love playing tennis, piano and travelling around Japan. It is my unforgettable memory that I spent much time waiting in a long queue to get a ticket for Wimbledon tennis tournament games over twenty times during my stay in London. As for travelling, I like visiting historical places and natural hot spring sites where I feel relaxed and also love to taste fabulous local specialty. I have a eighteen year old black & white cat named Jelly who was born and brought up in London. I brought him back to Japan. He took such a long journey with me all the way from London to Japan. He takes great delight in Japanese cuisine such as fresh tuna. Japan is a the pet friendly country. So, you can find plenty of pet cafes in the center of Tokyo like cat cafe, owl cafe, etc. Let's enjoy my tour together, featuring authentic Japanese history, interesting mixture of old and modern culture, natural beauty, unique coexistence of Shinto and Buddhism religion, and seasonal delicacy of Japanese cuisine. I am pleased to customize my tour flexibly according to your interest and request. If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy city, I will be delighted to take you to off the beaten track places where you can feel utmost comfortable and relaxed. Should you have any inquiries about my tours, please feel free to ask me. I would love to see you soon! National Licenced Tour Guide-Interpreter (English) : Certificate No. EN00790 Itinerary Administration Manager Certificate I am not a driver. I can accompany you in your vehicle. I also can arrange for a separate car and driver.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Masaharu N.
Exciting Nikko World Heritage Tour
Overview of your Tokyo tour
This tour features exciting visits to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage properties and panoramic beauty of nature in Nikko. Dating back over the history, Nikko had been a sacred mountain worshippers' training place in the ancient period. Thereafter, in Edo period, Tokugawa government built Nikko Toshogu Shrine to pay tribute to the first Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the government, who hoped to protect Edo Castle from the north. UNESCO World Heritage properties consist of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine and Rinnoji Temple/Taiyuden. Nikko Toshogu Shrine is especially the most valuable architecture for its magnificent 500 carvings on the buildings.
Recent Reviews
This was a great tour, Masaharu does an excellent job showing you all the sights and explaining all the interesting sights. He is extremely knowledgeable of and shares alot of information at each sight. His english is great and is very flexible in his schedule to make sure you see everything. You will not be dissapointed taking a tour with Masaharu, he does a great job.
If I could give more than 5 stars I would do that. Our tour was beyond anything we expected and the attention to detail was amazing. everything was top notch. We didn’t feel rushed or pressured to move on to the next site or feel like we missed anything. We would do this again in a heart beat!
My wife and I and two friends spent a delightful day trip to Nikko with Masaharu. He organised our train tickets and a van and driver in Nikko, and met us at our hotel and guided us to the train, to make sure everything went smoothly. In Nikko we visited lakes and waterfalls and the world heritage shrine and Masaharu also found us a lovely restaurant for lunch. His English is perfect as is his knowledge. We could not have asked for more.
Masaharu was a wonderful person and guide. It was a long tour which we knew but he taught us so much without it feeling like a lecture. He took us to great viewing points to see beautiful natural scenery and the Autumn/Fall foliage. We recommend Masa and this tour and hope to see him again when we return to see cherry blossoms.
After our first booked tour with Masa to Hakone, 2 days later we went to Nikko with Masa. Once again every detail was perfectly planned and executed. We had the good fortune of going on a day late in March that was snowing. The beauty of Nikko that Masa shared with us was stunning. Masa is a truly interesting, thoughtful and kind person with whom it is a real pleasure to spend touring time with. Likely the best guide we have had in our world wide travels and an extraordinary person. Thanks Masa!
Your Tokyo tour itinerary
(Option 1) -Meet you at the hotel in the center of Tokyo or main station -Get on a super express train or bullet train/local train to Nikko station -Hire a car with a driver and go up to Lake Chuzenji, Kegon fall, Ryuzu Fall and Lake Yunoko, etc -Take a lunch break at a restaurant offering local specialty such as soba, yuba, tempura, etc. -Move down to the World Heritage site and visit Toshogu shrine and Rinnoji temple -Return to Tobu or JR Nikko station -Take train back to Tokyo -See you off at the hotel (Option 2) -Meet you at the hotel in the center of Tokyo -Get on a Tobu Super Express train for Nikko station -Take a bus or walk to Sacred Shinkyo Bridge, the gateway to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site -Visit Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple/Taiyuden and Futarasan Shrine -Have a traditional Japanese lunch during the above visits -Visit Kanmangafuchi Abyss if time allows us -Return to Tobu Railway or JR Nikko station -Take train back to Tokyo -See you off at the hotel
Want to customize this tour?
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Transport details
Type: Public Transportation / Category: Train
We take super express train from Tokyo to Nikko and hire a car with driver for traveling around Nikko National Park. There are some alternative routes for Nikko, either using Tobu Railway train or JR Railway train to Nikko station. I choose the best route, depending on the location of your hotel to save transfer time. (1) JR Super Express train to Nikko from JR Shinjuku station. (2) Tobu Super Express train to Nikko from Asakusa station. After arriving at Nikko station, we travel by a hired car with driver around highland area offering Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Waterfall, Yutaki Waterfall, and UNESCO World Heritage site covering Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, etc. (1) Return Super express train costs some 8,000 yen per person. (2) Car-hire service fee depends on the number of guests: * 1- 3 guests (Nissan Cedric) = some 38,000 yen/5-hour driving * 4-5 guests (Toyota Alphard) = some 48.000 yen/5-hour driving
What's included
What's not included
Meeting location
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Hotel, Train Station
- You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
Tour reference number
Languages
English
JapaneseActivity level
Traveller reviews
FAQs
Who is this private tour in Tokyo best suited for?
What should I bring or wear?
Can this private tour in Tokyo be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?
Is this private tour in Tokyo suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?
What languages is this tour offered in?
What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?
Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
-
10 hours
30 minutes
1
Tour date
-
10 hours
30 minutes
1
Tour date
More tours in Tokyo by Masaharu N.
Explore more of Tokyo
Book with a deposit
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- The remaining balance will automatically be charged to your credit card 30 days before your tour date.