How to travel from Kobe to Nikko, Japan

The distance between Kobe and Nikko is around 592km (368 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 30m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Kobe to Nikko by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out NikkoKobe if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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plane
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train
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train
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Fly to Fukushima (FKS), train

Fly from Osaka Itami (ITM) to Fukushima (FKS) then take the train to Utsunomiya and then to Nikko.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    ¥37,510($275)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

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3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Tokyo then Utsunomiya and then to Nikko.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    ¥24,230($175)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

3
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Tokyo Station Nihonbashi-guchi and then to Tobu-Nikko.

  • Duration11h 45m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥24,915($180)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

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car
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Drive

Drive to Nikkō.

  • Duration7h 25m
  • Distance670km (416 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kobe and Nikko

There are several options for getting from Kobe to Nikko by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around ¥20,670 ($150) and will take around 4h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥37,510 ($275).

The distance between Kobe and Nikko is around 592km (368 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 465km (289 miles)

It takes around 4h 10m to get from Kobe and Nikko by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 7h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kobe to Nikko is to fly and then take the train which takes around 3h 30m and will set you back approx ¥37,510 ($275).

The cheapest way to travel between Kobe and Nikko, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around ¥20,670 ($150) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Kobe and Nikko. It typically takes around 4h 10m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Kobe to Nikko. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Tokyo and Utsunomiya. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 10m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen, Japan Railways, Japan Railways (JR) and Tobu Railway run train services between Kobe and Nikko. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 10m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Kobe and Nikko. It typically takes around 11h 45m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Kobe to Nikko. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Tokyo Station Nihonbashi-guchi and Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 11h 45m.

JR Bus Kanto and Tohoku Kyuko Bus run regular bus services between Kobe and Nikko. Buses run once daily and take around 11h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kobe to Nikko. We recommend that you fly from Kobe (UKB) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) then take the train to Tobu-Nikko. instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Nikko is Fukushima Airport (FKS) (FKS) which is approximately 86km (54 miles) from Nikko. Narita International Airport (NRT) (NRT) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) (HND) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Kobe and Nikko. The distance is around 670km (416 miles) by road and it will take around 7h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kobe to Nikko is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 10m and will usually cost around ¥24,230 ($175).

How do I get from Kobe to Nikko

Compare travel optionsbetween Kobe and Nikko

Transport options from Kobe to Nikko
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly to Fukushima (FKS), train + 4 similar
3h 30m
¥37,510($275)
hourly734km (456 miles)
Fly to Ibaraki (IBR), train3h 50m
¥29,980($220)
hourly651km (405 miles)
Plane and Train3h 55m
¥26,285($190)
hourly592km (368 miles)
Fly to Tokyo Haneda (HND), Train4h 10m
¥27,105($200)
hourly596km (370 miles)
Fly to Sendai (SDJ), train4h 25m
¥35,730($260)
hourly925km (574 miles)
Train + 1 similar
4h 10m
¥24,230($175)
hourly693km (431 miles)
Train via Tokyo4h 35m
¥20,670($150)
hourly684km (425 miles)
Bus
11h 45m
¥24,915($180)
once daily677km (421 miles)
Drive
7h 25m
¥9,720($71)
on demand670km (416 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kobe and Nikko

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Nikko

The following major airports near Nikko offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.

FKS
Fukushima Airport (FKS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
86km (54 miles) from Nikko
NRT
Narita International Airport (NRT)
International Airport
Distance
122km (76 miles) from Nikko
HND
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
International Airport
Distance
130km (81 miles) from Nikko