Nikko|It must be the limit for my personal day trip around Tokyo
It must be the limit for my personal day trip around Tokyo. The reason why it's considered the limit mainly lies in two aspects:
The first is the limit of effort. Starting from the Tokyo metropolitan area (such as Ueno), it's about 110 kilometers, roughly 1500 yen, and takes two and a half hours to arrive. The return trip costs 3200 yen by limited express, taking more than two hours to return. Both the time spent and the cost are the limits for my day-return trips.
The second is the limit of gains. As a World Heritage site, Nikko has both cultural historical relics and natural scenery, with information fully packed. With mountains, water, and temples, and various experiences to enjoy when the weather is good, it is a perfect tourist destination away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
Here's my travel route:
In the morning, I set off from Ueno, arrived at Tobu-Nikko Station, wandered around after getting off, and walked to Shinkyo Bridge, a stunning red amidst the greenery. Even more surprising was the 300 yen fee to cross the bridge, and the exit was still sealed off...
From the sealed-off exit opposite Shinkyo Bridge, I entered a small grove and headed to Rinno-ji Temple. Friends who are not interested in religion can just take a look from the outside. Like me, spending over 400 yen to enter and being glared at by unknown deities was simply a loss.
After that, I followed the signs to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu and one of Japan's most lavish shrines. The admission fee was 1600 yen, worthy of the great shogun, contributing to Japan's revenue with utmost dedication. I don't know much about history, but the carvings here felt very exquisite, especially the 'Three Wise Monkeys' and the 'Sleeping Cat' carvings, which were quite charming.
Leaving Toshogu, I went to Rinno-ji Temple's Taiyuin Mausoleum (part of the earlier Rinno-ji ticket), and there were still a few autumn leaves inside, making me imagine the beauty of this place during the fall foliage season...
From Taiyuin, I walked to Futarasan Jinja Shrine. This shrine worships the deity of Mount Nantai and has a history of over 1200 years. At the entrance, there's a wooden drum for praying for good relationships, with a merit box placed beside it.
I took a right turn from the exit in front of Futarasan Jinja Shrine and took a bus, where I encountered the most beautiful Lawson 2.0
The final stop was Lake Chuzenji, a beautiful volcanic crater lake. It exists so comfortably, with the greenery of the surrounding mountains and the rippling blue waves, I couldn't help but imagine how the autumn leaves by the lake must be breathtakingly beautiful.
Kegon Falls, located a two-minute walk from Lake Chuzenji, is one of Japan's three famous waterfalls. The waterfall is about 97 meters high, and from the observation deck, you can feel the magnificence and shock of the waterfall up close. The lower observation deck costs 570 yen. After an hour on the bus, is this additional 500+ yen really necessary?
In summary, Nikko is truly a versatile tourist destination. You must choose a day with good weather to go, as sunny days make historical sites less gloomy, and the natural scenery under the blue sky and white clouds is simply unbeatable.
Even though the transportation and sightseeing costs are high, the experience is really good, and I must return during the autumn foliage season.
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