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Istanbul to Japan beyond Tokyo: Nikkō and Kamakura

Istanbul → Nikkō → Kamakura

Nikko Toshogu
"The Three Wise Monkeys, Nikkō Tōshō-gū; April 2018.jpg" by Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Skyscrapers of Shinjuku 2009 January (Tokyo)
Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shrines in cedar forests & a coastal temple town Best season (general guide): Apr–May, Oct–Nov

Two historic towns within reach of Tokyo show a quieter side of Japan, one in the mountains, one by the sea. This route spends three nights in Nikkō and three in Kamakura. From Istanbul there are flights to Tokyo, directly or via a hub.

How to pace it: Spend days one to three in Nikkō: day one, train to Nikkō; day two, Tōshō-gū and the Shinkyō bridge; day three, Lake Chūzenji and Kegon Falls. Then spend days four to six in Kamakura: day four, train to Kamakura; day five, the Great Buddha and temples; day six, Enoshima island.

Nikkō's shrines and temples, listed by UNESCO, stand in a forest of tall cedars. Tōshō-gū, the mausoleum of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, is lavishly carved and painted.

The red Shinkyō bridge crosses the river at the entrance to the shrine area.

Above the town, a winding road climbs to Lake Chūzenji and the Kegon Falls, which plunge from the lake's outlet. Autumn colours here are famous.

Kamakura was Japan's capital in the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. The Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in is a huge bronze statue sitting in the open air, and Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū is the town's main shrine.

Enoshima, a small island linked to the coast by a bridge, has shrines, caves and views of Mount Fuji on clear days.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons.

In Nikkō, stay near the shrine area or by Lake Chūzenji for quiet evenings. Buses climb from the station to the lake; check times for the return. In Kamakura, the Enoden, a small coastal railway, links the town with Enoshima and the beaches. Hiking trails also connect temples in the hills above the town. Weekdays are calmer than weekends at both towns. Carry cash for temple entry and small shops. A day pass for local trains and buses around Kamakura often saves money.

Good to know: Both towns are easy by train from Tokyo. Nikkō is cooler than the city, so bring a layer. Visit popular temples early to avoid crowds.

Suggested outline

  1. Istanbul

    Start

  2. Nikkō

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    Ornate shrines in cedar forest, a lake and waterfalls.

  3. Kamakura

    By train · 3 nights suggested

    A seaside town of temples and a great bronze Buddha.

    Kamakura Daibutsu
    "Kamakura Budda Daibutsu front 1885.jpg" by Dirk Beyer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Nikkō — Arrive; train to Nikkō· Istanbul → Tokyo (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day, then Tokyo → Nikkō (by train)
  2. Day 2 · Nikkō — Tōshō-gū and the Shinkyō bridge
  3. Day 3 · Nikkō — Lake Chūzenji and Kegon Falls
  4. Day 4 · Kamakura — Train to Kamakura· Nikkō → Kamakura (by train)
  5. Day 5 · Kamakura — The Great Buddha and temples
  6. Day 6 · Kamakura — Enoshima island
  7. Day 7 · Kamakura — Travel home from Kamakura· Kamakura → Tokyo (by train), then Tokyo → Istanbul (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Nikkō

Nearest airport: Tokyo Search fares · Tokyo ↗

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