Lake Chuzenji’s only outlet is the Daiya River which begins at the eastern end of the lake. Shortly after the start of the river it drops down a cliff of the Akechidaira Plateau and forms the gorgeous Kegon Falls as the river makes its way towards the valley below. Kegon Falls is considered one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. With the waterfall being only 5 minutes from our ryokan, we made sure to stop by.

At the north end of Lake Chuzenji along the Yu River is Ryuzu Falls. Ryuzu Falls is known as one of the five best waterfalls in Nikko. Getting to the falls is less than a 10 minute drive from the town area at the east end of the lake. The drive took us through a lovely tree lined road that goes along the shore of the lake.

On the way up the winding NR 120 from Nikko to Lake Chuzenji is a small rest stop overlooking the slope and road below. Here snacks and ice cream can be purchased, but the reason we stopped was the Akechidaira Ropeway and its amazing view.

Nikko is a beautiful town that offers so much to visitors, but we wanted to get away from the crowds for a bit. So we headed to the Kanmangafuchi Abyss to enjoy a quiet stroll. Don’t let the ominous name throw you off, it’s a fantastic walk through a very old walking trail.

After a long morning of exploring the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, we wanted to get some lunch. So we walked back towards the train station and found Hippari-Dako. Located just a few minutes walk from the Shinkyo Bridge, Hippari-Dako is a small yakitori shop with some fantastic food. Their menu features a variety of items beyond yakitori, including ramen, yakisoba, yuba (tofu skin), sashimi, curry rice, tonkotsu, tempura soba, and much more.

On the western end of Nikko lies the massive complex that is collectively known as the Shrines and Temples of Nikko. The complex is comprised of the Futarasan Shrine, Tosho-gu Shrine, Rinno-ji Temple, and Taiyu-in Temple. This very culturally significant site is further enhanced by the gorgeous forest surrounding it.

Spanning the Daiya River in Nikko is the Shinkyo Bridge. This bridge is known as one of the three finest bridges in Japan. Its striking vermillion color and traditional design combined with the river and surrounding hills make it a very picturesque scene.

Our time at the Kai Nikko was fantastic, and one of the best parts of it, besides the amazing view from our room of Lake Chuzenji, was the food. As with other ryokans, Kai Nikko serves kaiseki meals for dinner. These meals usually offer seasonal and regional ingredients, and the regional specialty for Nikko is yuba.

The Kai Nikko is a high-end modern styled ryokan on the western outskirts of Nikko. The ryokan sits on shore of Lake Chuzenji with many rooms boasting amazing views of the lake and nearby Mount Nantai.