Day trips from Tokyo

Nikko small-group tour from Tokyo, with the Oya stone quarry

Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 11 GetYourGuide reviewers

A van for nine instead of a coach for fifty, with pick-up at central Tokyo hotels, an hour and a half at each of the big stops, and a finale no other Nikko day has: a stone quarry 30 metres underground. You explore on your own at each stop; the driver drives.

Starts inCentral Tokyo

The van collects you from hotels in Shinjuku, Chiyoda, Chuo and Taito wards, or at Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi North Exit if you are staying elsewhere, and the driver calls the day before with the time. It is a Toyota Alphard or Hiace, so there is room to stretch out.

The route runs the other way round from the coaches: first up to Kegon Falls for about an hour and a half, then lunch on your own by Lake Chuzenji (bring cash), then down to Toshogu for another hour and a half while the big coaches have moved on.

The day ends at the Oya History Museum, a former Oya stone quarry: a cavern 30 metres below ground that stays cool even in August. It is about 40 minutes and a strange, impressive end to the day.

This is a driver-guide tour, not a guided walk: the driver explains each stop and the meeting time, then you go in on your own.

Through the year

From mid October to mid November the Irohazaka is jammed, so the van leaves early. The quarry is cool all year: bring a light layer even in summer.

What guests love

Our summary of the reviews GetYourGuide shows on the product page.

Pick-up at the hotel made the day easy
Enough time at every stop
A spacious, comfortable van

Good for

Couples and families who prefer a small group
Travellers staying in central Tokyo
Anyone curious about the Oya quarry

Not for

Travellers with mobility impairments, by the operator’s note
Anyone who wants a guide inside the shrine

How the day goes

Tokyo
Pick-up at central hotels or Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit.
Kegon Falls
About 1.5 hours on your own.
Lake Chuzenji
Lunch on your own.
Toshogu Shrine
About 1.5 hours on your own.
Oya History Museum
About 40 minutes in the underground quarry.
Tokyo Station
Back to the Marunouchi North Exit.

Included

Van and driver-guide (who does not go into the sights)
Hotel pick-up in central wards

Not included

Admission tickets, unless you book the option with Toshogu
Meals and drinks

Why this one

Hotel pick-up, a small group and the Oya quarry for a little more than the coach days. If you want a guide inside Toshogu, take the Ginza or Shinjuku coach instead.

The facts

Where it starts: Central Tokyo hotels (Shinjuku, Chiyoda, Chuo, Taito) or Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit
Duration: About 10 hours
Group size: Up to 9
Languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean
Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours before

Checked against the GetYourGuide listing on 21 October 2026. Prices and options change: the calendar shows the current ones.

Before you book

It needs four guests to run
If fewer than four book, the operator tells you five days before and offers a full refund or a new date.
What to do. Book early, and keep a backup plan for a quiet weekday.
The driver does not come in
The driver explains each stop and the meeting time, but does not guide you inside the shrine or the quarry.
What to do. Read up on Toshogu before you go, or book a guided coach.

Questions

What is the Oya History Museum?

A former quarry of Oya stone near Utsunomiya: a huge underground chamber about 30 metres below ground, cool all year. The tour spends about 40 minutes there.

Is Toshogu admission included?

Only on the option with admission. Otherwise you have free time around the shrine area, and the ticketed precinct needs its own ticket.

Can we have the van to ourselves?

Yes, there is a private charter option; the driver calls the day before to plan the route with you.