Nikko's Lake Chuzenji Boat Tour: A Scenic Delight

Nikko is indeed one of the favorite destinations for people in the Kanto region 😍 The buses heading up the mountain are always packed, and traffic jams start after 10 a.m. Even without seats, the bus drivers will pack the buses full. The ride, especially through the winding roads at Akechidaira, is as thrilling as a roller coaster. The bus tilts so much that I had to grip the handrails tightly, or I would have ended up in someone else's lap. So it's a good idea to check the bus schedule and arrive 20 minutes early to secure a seat, which is a real treat ☀️ Most people gather on the left side of Chuzenji Onsen Station by Lake Chuzenji, but on the right side, there are old British and Italian embassies. In the afternoon when the sun is shining, the maple leaves are stunningly beautiful, not to mention the dreamy view with the small cottages of the embassies ✨💖 As the sun sets, catching one of the last few boat tours around the lake is a perfect way to experience the beauty of Lake Chuzenji. If you have a Nikko pass, you can take unlimited boat rides. They don't mark the pass, and they don't clear the boat when it docks, so you can stay on the boat or take a ride in the morning and another in the afternoon to enjoy the lake's beauty at different times 😌 Viewing the lakeside buildings and the mountains full of red, yellow, and orange leaves from the lake offers a perspective that is completely different from that on land, resembling a series of landscape paintings. As the boat tour ends, the sun also sets behind the mountains, and the oblique rays of light perfectly encapsulate the beauty of the afternoon 🌞