The Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W is a loop bus running from JR-Nikko and Tobu-Nikko Stations to various Tobu World Heritage Sites nearby. While touted as a “sightseeing bus”, to properly visit the attractions, you need to get off the bus and take a short walk up some hills in order to see the various Tobu World Heritage Sites, rather than functioning as a sit-in tour whereby you can see the temples from the bus. The Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W is the most frequent bus service around Nikko, so more often than not, you’re going to catch it on first try even on parallel bus routes.
The Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W departs from the big bus stop in front of Tobu-Nikko Station.
As with most Japanese local buses, board the bus from the rear door and take a numbered ticket.
Fare payment is made only when alighting.
The route information of the Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W as displayed on board the bus.
Departing from Tobu-Nikko Station.
The stop information is shown and announced on board the Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W.
Heading up the main road.
The Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W is not just a tourist bus but operates as a public bus service as well. As such, it stops at all regular bus stops en route.
More Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing buses in Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus livery.
The ticket office for the Shinkyo Bridge. Shinkyo Bridge marks the entrance to the Nikko World Heritage shrines and temples.
Shinkyo Bridge is regarded as one of Japan’s famous bridges.
When heading back, wait for the Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W at marked bus stops.
The Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W fare information is displayed on board the bus, corresponding with the numbered ticket taken when boarding. It changes as the bus travels along the route. Pay the fare that corresponds to the boarding ticket when paying the driver when alighting.
Arriving at Tobu-Nikko Station.
The bus drops off passengers for Tobu-Nikko Station beside the station car park, and thereafter continues on to JR-Nikko Station.
From the drop-off stop, it’s just about a minute’s walk back to Tobu-Nikko Station.
If you are planning to go around the full route of the Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W and making at least one stop, it may be cheaper and easier to use the World Heritage Sightseeing Pass as a normal two-way fare would cost ¥620 while the World Heritage Sightseeing Pass is only ¥500 for a day’s worth of unlimited rides on the Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W.
If you have more time to spare, you can also consider using the Kirifuri No Taki Free Pass (Kirifuri Falls Free Pass) which covers the World Heritage Area and to additionally see the Kirifuri Falls as the cost is only ¥600, which is just a ¥100 top-up from the World Heritage Sightseeing Pass.
If you are using the Tobu Railway Nikko World Heritage Area Pass or Nikko All Area Pass, the Tobu World Heritage Sightseeing Bus Service W is fully covered.
However, it is worth noting that the return fare to Shinkyo Bridge is just ¥400, ¥200 each way, so the pass will not cover the value of the fare to Shinkyo Bridge.
Tobu Bus Nikko passes can be purchased on the day itself at Tobu-Nikko Station Tourist Center or JR-Nikko Station ticket office.
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