Riding Liberty Kegon to Nikko! Exploring Toshogu Shrine & the Spectacular Spacia X

Liberty Kegon: A Comfortable Start to the Nikko Journey

Our trip began aboard the Limited Express Liberty Kegon — a relaxing and comfortable ride all the way to Tobu-Nikko Station.

Here’s something many visitors don’t know: Nikko actually has two railway stations — Tobu-Nikko Station and JR Nikko Station. The charming, atmospheric station building in our photos is actually JR Nikko Station. Both stations have their own unique character, and simply admiring the architecture puts you in the perfect travel mood!

Liberty Kegon is a limited express train operated by Tobu Railway. It connects Asakusa in Tokyo to Tobu-Nikko in approximately 1 hour 50 minutes — a smooth and scenic journey.

Spacia X Was Waiting for Us at Tobu-Nikko Station!

Stepping off the train at Tobu-Nikko Station, we were greeted by the stunning Spacia X parked right on the platform! We couldn’t resist lining up beside it for a photo 📷

We even sneaked a peek inside — and the interior was absolutely breathtaking. The urge to board immediately was overwhelming! Since we had the Spacia X reserved for the return journey, we reluctantly tore ourselves away and headed toward Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

Spacia X debuted in 2023 as Tobu Railway’s newest limited express train. With unique seating options including a Cockpit Lounge and Box Seats, it’s an incredibly popular train that books up fast — reserve early!

Drop Off Your Luggage First — Travel Light!

Carrying heavy luggage to Nikko Toshogu Shrine would be a challenge, so we took advantage of a great tip: the hotel we were staying at had a sister facility right in front of JR Nikko Station, where we were able to drop off our luggage before sightseeing.

This turned out to be the best decision of the day! With nothing but a day bag, we hopped on the bus from JR Nikko Station and headed to Toshogu Shrine feeling completely free.

Getting to Nikko Toshogu Shrine: Buses run from both JR Nikko Station and Tobu-Nikko Station. The buses from Tobu-Nikko Station are more frequent and convenient. The ride takes approximately 10 minutes.

Visiting Nikko Toshogu Shrine

Free from the burden of heavy bags, we fully enjoyed our visit to Nikko Toshogu Shrine. The magnificent historic structures surrounded by lush nature are awe-inspiring no matter how many times you visit.

After the visit, we hopped back on the bus to Tobu-Nikko Station, picked up a bento dinner, and headed to our hotel for the night.

Suggested Itinerary for a Nikko Day Trip

Time	Activity
Morning	Arrive at Tobu-Nikko Station via Liberty Kegon
Morning	Drop off luggage at hotel near JR Nikko Station
Morning–Noon	Take bus to Nikko Toshogu Shrine and explore
Evening	Pick up bento dinner at Tobu-Nikko Station
Evening	Check in to hotel
Return	Ride Spacia X back to Tokyo

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Planning to Ride Spacia X? Book Early!

Spacia X is an extremely popular train and seats fill up quickly. The Cockpit Lounge and Box Seats in particular tend to sell out well in advance. If you’re planning a trip to Nikko, we strongly recommend booking your Spacia X seats as early as possible!

Summary | Liberty Kegon + Spacia X = The Perfect Nikko Round Trip

Train	Route
Liberty Kegon	Asakusa → Tobu-Nikko
Bus	Nikko Station → Toshogu Shrine
Spacia X	Tobu-Nikko → Asakusa (return)

Drop off your luggage, visit the shrine, and return in style on the Spacia X — this is the ultimate Nikko day trip formula. Start planning your visit today!