Nikkō facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikkō 日光市
City
From top, left to right: Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Kegon Falls, Kinugawa Onsen, Lake Chūzenji and Mount Nantai, and Ashio Copper Mine
Flag Seal
The location of Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture
Nikkō Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tochigi
First official recorded	766 AD
City Settled	February 11, 1954
Area
• Total	1,449.83 km2 (559.78 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2021)
• Total	76,452
• Density	52.7317/km2 (136.5745/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0288-22-1111
Address	1 Imaichi Honchō, Nikkō-shi, Tochigi-ken 321–1292
Climate	Dfb
Symbols Bird Cettia diphone, Alcedo atthis Flower Rhododendron, Hemerocallidoideae Tree Betula platyphylla, Autumn leaf color

Nikkō (日光市, Nikkō-shi, IPA: [ɲikkoꜜːɕi]) is a beautiful city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It's a very popular place for both Japanese and international tourists. As of December 2, 2020, about 80,239 people lived there.

Nikkō is famous for its amazing attractions. You can visit the mausoleum (a special tomb) of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Nikkō Tōshō-gū shrine. His grandson Iemitsu also has a mausoleum nearby. The Futarasan Shrine is also very old, dating back to 767 AD. The area is also known for its many relaxing hot springs, called onsen.

Nikkō is located at different heights, from 200 to 2,000 meters above sea level. There's a famous Japanese saying: "Never say kekkō until you've seen Nikkō." Kekkō means splendid or magnificent. This saying shows just how beautiful and wonderful Nikkō is!

Exploring Nikkō's Geography

Central Nikkō city

Nikkō is a very large city by area, covering about 1,449.83 square kilometers. It's in the rural northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture. Nikkō is about 140 kilometers north of Tokyo and 35 kilometers west of Utsunomiya, which is the capital of Tochigi. It's actually the third-largest city in Japan by land area!

Two important rivers, the Watarase River and the Kinugawa River, flow through Nikkō. You can also find Lake Chūzenji and the stunning Kegon Falls here. The Nikko Botanical Garden is another lovely spot. Because of its many mountains and waterfalls, Nikkō is a big source of hydroelectric power, which is electricity made from water. The area has also been used for mining copper.

Nikkō's Climate and Weather

The weather in Nikkō is quite unique. Even though it's much closer to Tokyo, its climate is similar to Hokkaidō, Japan's northern island. This is because Nikkō is high up in the mountains. The higher you go, the cooler it gets.

The average temperature in Nikkō is around 7°C (44°F). In the warmest months, it reaches about 22°C (72°F). In the coldest months, temperatures can drop to about −8°C (17°F). Nikkō has warm summers and cold winters with a lot of snow. The wettest month is usually September.

Nikkō's Population Over Time

The number of people living in Nikkō has slowly gone down over the last 20 years.

A Look at Nikkō's History

A 1901 map of the city sights

The history of Nikkō began in 766 AD. That's when a monk named Shōdō Shōnin (勝道上人) founded the Rinnō-ji temple. Later, in 784, he also established the Chūzen-ji [ja] temple. A small village grew up around these important temples.

A very significant event was the completion of the Nikkō Tōshō-gū shrine in 1617. This shrine became a huge attraction for visitors during the Edo period (1603-1868). It is known as the burial place of the famous shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. To make it easier for people to visit, many new roads were built. Today, the Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnō-ji are together a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Shrines and Temples of Nikkō.

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), Nikkō became a popular mountain resort. It was especially liked by foreign visitors. Getting to Nikkō became even easier when the Japanese National Railways started train service in 1890. The Tobu Railway followed in 1929.

Nikkō officially became a town in 1889. Then, in 1954, it became a city after joining with a nearby village. In 2006, Nikkō grew even bigger by combining with several other towns and villages. This made the city of Nikkō much larger than before.

Nikkō's Economy and Jobs

Nikkō's economy mostly relies on tourism. People come to see its historic sites, beautiful scenery, and enjoy the hot spring resorts. Making hydroelectric power (electricity from water), processing food, and working with non-ferrous metals (metals like copper that don't contain iron) are also important parts of the economy.

Nikkō is also recognized for its modern technology. The Japanese government has supported Nikkō in developing good internet and computer systems for people who work from home. This helps the city grow and adapt to new ways of working.

Fun Places to Visit in Nikkō

• 

  The famous "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys at Toshogu

• 

  True Light Anglican Church, built in 1916

• 

  A miniature St. Peter's Basilica at Tobu World Square

• 

  A ninja at Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura

• Cedar Avenue of Nikko: A long road lined with ancient cedar trees.
• Nikko Botanical Garden: A beautiful garden to explore different plants.
• Tamozawa Imperial Villa: A former imperial residence with lovely gardens.
• Shrines and Temples of Nikkō: This includes the famous Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnō-ji.
  • At Nikkō Tōshō-gū, look for the carvings of the Three wise monkeys ("See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil").
• Rinnō-ji: An important temple with the Taiyū-in Mausoleum and the beautiful Shōyō-en Garden.
• Lake Chūzenji: A scenic lake perfect for enjoying nature.
• Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura: A fun historical theme park where you can experience what Japan was like during the Edo period.
• Monkeys: In winter, you might see monkeys walking around town looking for food!
• Jizō Bosatsu statues on the Kanman Walk: Locals say if you count these statues on your way there and back, you'll get a different number!
• Kanmangafuchi Abyss: A unique place formed by lava from the eruption of Mount Nantai.

Getting Around Nikkō

The Shinkyo bridge, a famous symbol of Nikko

You can travel to and around Nikkō by train and car.

Train Travel

Several train lines serve Nikkō, connecting it to other parts of Japan.

• JR East – Nikkō Line
  • Stations: Fubasami - Shimotsuke-Ōsawa - Imaichi - Nikkō
• Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Nikkō Line
  • Stations: Shimo-Goshiro - Myōjin - Shimo-Imaichi - Kami-Imaichi - Tōbu Nikkō
• Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Kinugawa Line
  • Stations: Shimo-Imaichi - Daiya-Mukō - Ōkuwa - Shin-Takatoku - Kosagoe - Tobu World Square - Kinugawa-Onsen - Kinugawa-Kōen - Shin-Fujiwara
• Yagan Railway
  • Stations: Shin-Fujiwara - Ryūōkyō - Kawaji-Onsen - Kawaji-Yumoto - Yunishigawa-Onsen - Nakamiyori-Onsen - Kamimiyori-Shiobara-Onsenguchi - Ojika-Kōgen
• Watarase Keikoku Railway
  • Stations: Haramukō - Tsūdō - Ashio - Matō

Road Travel

Major highways also connect Nikkō to other cities.

• Tōhoku Expressway
• Nikkō Utsunomiya Road
• National Route 119
• National Route 120
• National Route 121
• National Route 122
• National Route 352
• National Route 400
• National Route 461

Sports in Nikkō

Nikkō Kirifuri skate center

Nikkō is home to the Nikkō Ice Bucks, a professional ice hockey team that plays in the Asia League Ice Hockey. The Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena has even hosted international ice hockey championships. There's also a special track for speed skating.

Learning in Nikkō: Education

Nikkō has many schools for young people. The city government runs 23 public primary schools, 12 public middle schools, and three schools that combine primary and middle levels. The Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education operates three public high schools in the city. There's also a special education school for students with disabilities.

High schools in Nikkō include:

• Tochigi Prefectural Nikko Meiho High School [ja]
• Tochigi Prefectural Imaichi High School [ja]
• Tochigi Prefectural Imaichi Technical High School [ja]

Famous People from Nikkō

• Masaru Ibuka: A very important businessman who helped start Sony, a famous electronics company.
• Shoma Sato: A professional baseball player.
• Akio Fukuda: A politician.
• Tomikazu Fukuda: A politician.

Nikkō's Sister Cities

Nikkō has special relationships with other cities around the world, called "sister cities" or "friendship cities."

• Rapid City, South Dakota, United States (since 1993)
• Tainan, Taiwan (since 2009)
• Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan (since 1980)

See also

In Spanish: Nikkō (Tochigi) para niños