Cedar Avenue of Nikkō
日光杉並木
One of the places locals name first when asked what to see here.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
The Cedar Avenue of Nikkō (日光杉並木, Nikkō suginami-ki) is the popular name for three separate tree-lined sections of roads in the city of Nikkō, Tochigi in the northern Kantō region of Japan. These roads are the Nikkō Kaidō, Nikkō Reiheishi Kaidō and Aizu Nishi Kaidō and the 13,000 cryptomeria trees lining a total of 35.41 kilometers (22.00 mi) of these roads form a monumental approach to the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō. Although it is not a single continuous road, the "Cedar Avenue of Nikkō" was listed in the 1996 Guinness Book of World Records as the longest tree-lined avenue in the world. It is the only cultural property designated by the Japanese Government as both a Special Historic Site and a Special Natural Monument.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- A setting that gives you the character of the area in a single visit.
- Scenery and detail that shift with the season, the weather and the time of day.
- Easy to combine with other stops nearby, so it works as the anchor of a half-day plan.
What you can do here
- Take the main viewpoint first, then explore the quieter edges most visitors skip.
- Read the on-site information boards — they usually explain far more than online listings.
- Photograph in the early morning or late afternoon for the best light and fewest people.
- Pair the visit with a nearby café, market or hot spring to round out the trip.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Check the last admission and last bus/train before you go; rural services stop early.
- Carry cash — smaller sites and rural transport may not accept cards or IC.
- Weekday mornings are consistently the calmest time to visit.
Traveler reviews
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