Rinnoji temple
Rinnoji temple is located in Nikko, a little village tucked away in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture.
Not only is it a natural wonder, but it’s also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Yes, that’s right—Nikko is so special that even UNESCO couldn’t resist giving it its stamp of approval!
Rinnoji Temple is home to the impressive Sanbutsudo Hall, where three golden statues represent Nikko’s protective Buddhist deities: Amida, Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon) and Bato Kannon (Horse-Headed Kannon).
The temple grounds also feature the Shoyoen Garden, a serene space that changes beautifully with the seasons—cherry blossoms in spring, golden leaves in autumn. It’s the perfect place to slow down, breathe and soak in the atmosphere.
Access
Getting to Nikko from Tokyo is really easy:
- With a JR Pass: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno Station to Utsunomiya Station (about 50 min). From there, switch to the JR Nikko Line to JR Nikko Station (around 40 min).
- Without a JR Pass: Take the Tobu Limited Express from Asakusa Station straight to Tobu Nikko Station (about 1h 50 min; ¥2,800).
If you’re on a tighter budget, there are also local Tobu trains (¥1,400), but they take over 2.5 hours and usually require a transfer.
Nikko’s city centre is pretty compact, so the best way to get around is on foot. Most of the main sights—like Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnoji Temple—are just a 10 to 15-minute walk from each other.
Price
Rinnoji’s goshuin is 300 ¥.
Opening Hours
Entrance fee to Rinnoji temple is 400 yenes.
It’s open from 8h to 17h.
