Our Family trip to Nikko
Our second day was all about visiting the World Heritage Site of Nikko. The site of shrines and temples was proclaimed under the UNESCO World Heritage programme, so we planned to visit the places that were on our list.
We had our breakfast from the hotel buffet. The spread had no varieties, but we already knew this before when the booking was done. It was a traditional Japanese meal, accompanied by soup. I had white rice, pasta with white sauce, horenso or spinach salad, and the ever-famous umeboshi,
It was a good breakfast. Simple but healthy breakfast. “Umeboshi” is a pickled plum, which is very famous with Japanese sticky rice.
and a cup of milk coffee, which I can’t live without, plus a mini bun with jam and butter
We both had breakfast in shifts because we had to take care of the baby. The hotel receptionist was from my country, and she kindly asked me to take care of our boy while we had breakfast, but I didn’t want to give her any extra discomfort in her duty.
Small change of Plans
Soon after breakfast, we left for the journey, but the line we planned to take to Nikko showed a significant delay. Travel moments like this can easily become stressful. We quickly switched to another line, even though that particular train fare was comparatively high in price, but we had to do it because we knew that time was precious.
First Stop: The Iconic Red Bridge
The World Heritage sites in Nikko—its temples and shrines—were our main focus. Before stepping into the holy land of shrines, we went to see the famous bridge. What a view! I could not take my eyes off it. It was like paradise: a beautiful red-painted bridge with clean blue water glowing beneath it. The picturesque colours of the autumn leaves made everything look like a scene in a photo frame.
See the beauty.
Exploring Temples, History, and a 400-Year-Old Cherry Tree
Our next stop was Rinnoji Temple. In its peaceful grounds stands a cherry tree said to be more than 400 years old. Supported carefully to help it remain upright, the tree felt like a living piece of history. We fed our baby some plain yoghurt—one of his favourites—before continuing our walk. I feel wonder the way how our baby boy remains calm when he is outside.
It was so cold outside, and even though we always wanted him to wear his fluffy cap, he never wanted to. Whenever we put it on him, he would quickly throw it off—haha! I feel like in his little mind, he’s thinking, “Caps are for fashion, not for the cold!” Haha!
Cold weather and warm food
By the time we reached the Toshogu Shrine area, hunger had completely taken over. The cold air doubled the feeling! Luckily, we found perfect comfort food nearby
crispy, juicy Japanese karaage and
a pack of yakisoba with pickled ginger.
It warmed us right up and filled us with fresh energy. Of course, our little boy ate before we headed inside. He didn’t even fuss—he must have been enjoying the outside world just as much as we were.
Inside Toshogu Shrine, photography is not allowed, so all the beauty and artwork remain captured only in our memories. Sometimes, experiencing something with just your eyes feels even more special.
So crowded.
Souvenirs, Sweet Gifts, and a Quiet Walk Back
After finishing our temple visits, we walked back toward the station. We could have taken a bus, but both of us preferred strolling. We’ve recently started a hobby of collecting souvenirs from each place we visit. It’s such a sweet way to remember our travels as a family.
Earlier at Kegon Falls, we had picked up a tiny model of the waterfall. On the way back, we found a beautiful painting and a special Nikko sweet set to bring to our Japanese friend. Little memories packaged neatly for home.
It was one of those days where everything—travel, food, culture, nature, and small moments with our baby—came together beautifully. A perfect lifestyle moment in the heart of Nikko.
Our family trip to Nikko was such a splendid gift in our lives.
