The distance between Matsue and Nikko is around 791km (492 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 10m.
We've found 7 different ways to get from Matsue 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 Nikko → Matsue if you're planning a return trip.
Fly from Izumo (IZO) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) then take the train to Tobu-Nikko.
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the train to Okayama then Tokyo and then to Tobu-Nikko.
Multiple train operators
Take the bus to Tokyo Station Nihonbashi Exit and then to Tobu-Nikko.
Multiple bus operators
There are several options for getting from Matsue to Nikko by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥20,535 ($150) and will take around 14h 60m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥32,855 ($240).
The distance between Matsue and Nikko is around 791km (492 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 613km (381 miles)
It takes around 7h 45m to get from Matsue and Nikko by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 10h 10m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Matsue to Nikko is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4h 10m and will set you back approx ¥32,855 ($240).
The cheapest way to travel between Matsue and Nikko, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥20,535 ($150) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Matsue and Nikko. It typically takes around 7h 45m and departs twice daily.
There are no direct train services that runs from Matsue to Nikko. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Okayama, Tokyo and Kita-senju. These services run twice daily and will take a minimum of 7h 45m.
Japan Railways Limited Express, Japan Railways Shinkansen and Tobu Railway run train services between Matsue and Nikko. Trains depart twice daily and will take around 7h 45m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Matsue and Nikko. It typically takes around 14h 60m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Matsue to Nikko. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Tokyo Station Nihonbashi Exit and Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 14h 60m.
Chugoku JR Bus Company and Tohoku Kyuko Bus run regular bus services between Matsue and Nikko. Buses run once daily and take around 14h 60m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Matsue to Nikko. We recommend that you fly from Izumo (IZO) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) then take the train to Tobu-Nikko. instead which will take 4h 10m.
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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Matsue and Nikko. The distance is around 910km (566 miles) by road and it will take around 10h 10m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Matsue to Nikko is to take the train which takes, on average, 7h 45m and will usually cost around ¥27,925 ($205).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Train + 3 similar | 4h 10m | ¥32,855($240) | hourly | 805km (500 miles) |
Fly to Sendai (SDJ), train | 4h 20m | ¥64,345($470) | hourly | 1,074km (667 miles) |
Train and Plane | 4h 40m | ¥45,585($335) | hourly | 791km (492 miles) |
Train to Tottori, plane | 5h 10m | ¥28,750($210) | 5 times a day | 796km (495 miles) |
Train | 7h 45m | ¥27,925($205) | twice daily | 998km (620 miles) |
Bus | 14h 60m | ¥20,535($150) | once daily | 912km (567 miles) |
Drive | 10h 10m | ¥13,140($95) | on demand | 910km (566 miles) |
Chugoku JR Bus Company
Kintetsu Bus
Tohoku Kyuko Bus
Tobu Railway
Fuji Dream
The following major airports near Nikko offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.