Tokyo makes an excellent base precisely because so much sits within easy reach of it. A shrine complex in the mountains at Nikko, the seaside temples of Kamakura, the harbor views of Yokohama, and the sandy stretch of Enoshima are all doable in a single day, often without ever checking into a second hotel. A
Nikko occupies a special place in Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage landscape — the ornate, gold-leafed Toshogu Shrine complex set among towering cedar forests, a two-hour journey from Tokyo that delivers one of the most rewarding day trips in the Kanto region. Beyond Nikko’s shrine district, Tochigi Prefecture unfolds into mountain lakes, dramatic waterfalls, and the