Nikko Day Trip and a Sushi Class in Asakusa

Nikko is one of the most popular day trips from Tokyo, with its shrines and temples set among cedar forests and mountain scenery. Many visitors do not realise that one of the main ways to get there starts in Asakusa. Tobu Railway's limited express trains to Nikko depart from Tobu Asakusa Station, and our studio is about 30 seconds on foot from that station's North Exit.

That makes it tempting to put a Nikko day trip and a sushi class on the same day. Sometimes this works well; sometimes it makes both halves of the day feel rushed. This guide explains the realistic options and how to choose between them.

How long the journey to Nikko takes

According to Japan's official national parks guide, the Tobu limited express from Asakusa to Nikko takes about two hours and may require a change at Shimo-Imaichi Station. All seats on the limited express require a reservation. Local trains are cheaper but slower, with more changes.

Two hours each way means a day trip to Nikko takes up at least four hours of travel before you have seen anything. Add time at the shrines, a meal and the walk between sights, and most of the day is gone. Check the current Tobu limited express timetable for your date before you plan anything else, and reserve your seats once you know which train you want.

Option 1: Take the class on a different day (the easiest plan)

For most travellers, the simplest and most relaxed approach is to keep Nikko and the sushi class on separate days. Spend one full day in Nikko without watching the clock, and book the class for a day when you are exploring Asakusa or nearby areas anyway.

Our signature sushi class lasts about 90 minutes and includes making and eating nigiri and maki, a sake toast and whisking your own matcha. It fits easily into an Asakusa day with Senso-ji and Nakamise Street, and the studio is also close to the Ginza Line and Toei Asakusa Line stations. See our guide to finding the studio from each Asakusa station for the walking routes.

If you are staying near Asakusa the night before your Nikko trip, you could also take the class the afternoon before. You will then already know your way around Tobu Asakusa Station when you set off the next morning.

Option 2: An early onigiri class, then the train

If you only have one day, the most practical way to combine the two is to start with a class and then catch a train. Our Onigiri Morning Class starts at 8:00 AM and lasts about 60 minutes. You learn to make Japanese rice balls with a variety of fillings, and the class includes green tea and a take-home onigiri set. If you plan to eat it on the train, ask the team how long it should be kept before eating.

A few points make this plan work:

• It is a request booking. Send your preferred date and wait for confirmation before reserving your train seats.
• Leave a buffer. Do not reserve the first train that leaves right after the class finishes. A comfortable gap gives you time to collect your bags, find the right platform and buy something to drink.
• Bring only what you need. The studio has luggage storage for the class, but if you are going on to Nikko you will carry your bag with you afterwards.

Our morning onigiri class itinerary explains how the early class works as the start of a longer day.

Option 3: Nikko first, class in the evening (only with plenty of margin)

It is possible to go to Nikko early, return to Asakusa and take a class later in the day, but we only recommend it if the timetable leaves a large margin. A return journey of about two hours, with a possible change of train, can be affected by delays or crowding, and you will probably be tired after a day of walking.

Keep in mind that the class starts at a fixed time and our cancellation terms are strict at short notice. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the class, but after that, and for no-shows, the full price is charged. If a late train makes you miss the class, the fee still applies. If you choose this plan, pick a session with plenty of time after your planned return, and eat only a light lunch in Nikko, because the sushi you make is a full meal.

Luggage and moving hotels

Some travellers visit Nikko on the way to somewhere else, for example staying overnight in Nikko or Kinugawa and continuing their trip from there. If you are leaving Tokyo with your suitcases, the class can still fit: the studio has space to store luggage during the session. Our guide to taking a sushi class with luggage before check-in covers how that works on travel days.

Tell us in advance if you will be arriving with large bags, so we can prepare space.

Seasonal crowds

Nikko is especially popular during the autumn leaves season, and trains and sights can be busy at weekends and on holidays. On busy days, reserving train seats early and choosing a separate day for the class is usually the less stressful plan. If you decide to combine them anyway, book both as early as you can so you know your times before you travel.

Choosing your plan

• Plenty of days in Tokyo: Nikko on one day, the signature sushi class on an Asakusa day.
• Only one day, early riser: 8:00 AM onigiri class, then a reserved Tobu limited express.
• Only one day, evening class: possible, but only with a generous margin and a light lunch.

When you have settled your dates, open the signature sushi class page to see the sessions available and book the one that fits around your Nikko trip.