How to travel from Matsue to Nikko, Japan

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.

7 routes found

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 NikkoMatsue if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Izumo (IZO) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) then take the train to Tobu-Nikko.

  • Duration4h 10m
  • Flight time1h 25m
  • Typical cost
    ¥32,855($240)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

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

2
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Okayama then Tokyo and then to Tobu-Nikko.

  • Duration7h 45m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥27,925($205)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

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

  • Duration14h 60m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥20,535($150)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Nikkō.

  • Duration10h 10m
  • Distance910km (566 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Matsue and Nikko

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.

Train travel

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.

Bus travel

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.

Flights and Airlines

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.

Drive yourself

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).

How do I get from Matsue to Nikko

Compare travel optionsbetween Matsue and Nikko

Transport options from Matsue to Nikko
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 3 similar
4h 10m
¥32,855($240)
hourly805km (500 miles)
Fly to Sendai (SDJ), train4h 20m
¥64,345($470)
hourly1,074km (667 miles)
Train and Plane4h 40m
¥45,585($335)
hourly791km (492 miles)
Train to Tottori, plane5h 10m
¥28,750($210)
5 times a day796km (495 miles)
Train
7h 45m
¥27,925($205)
twice daily998km (620 miles)
Bus
14h 60m
¥20,535($150)
once daily912km (567 miles)
Drive
10h 10m
¥13,140($95)
on demand910km (566 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Matsue and Nikko

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