How to Reach Earth Hostel — Nikko Riverhouse
Everything you need to get here, get around during your stay, and get back to the station when you leave.
Earth Hostel Nikko Riverhouse sits in the mountains of Nikko, Japan, with a free shuttle for all guests every day of their stay. Evening pickups run from Tobu Nikko Station or (JR) Nikko Station at 4:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 9 PM; morning drop-offs run 6–10 AM. The hostel is at 2254-7 Minami-Okorogawa, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1353.
Before searching Google Maps for directions: the hostel address and GPS coordinates are at the bottom of this page. Google results for “Nikko” directs you to Imaichi (central Nikko), which is a different part of the city than where Tobu Nikko and JR Nikko stations are located. Nikko is the 3rd largest city in Japan by land size, with 12 train stations — it is not a small village. Please read this page or your confirmation email first.
Free Shuttle Service — Available to All Guests, Every Day of Your Stay
The shuttle is not just for check-in and check-out. It runs for arriving guests, returning guests, morning day trips to the tourist area, and checkouts. You are never stuck at the hostel.
Book Direct At Earth Hostel Nikko Riverhouse
What the Shuttle Covers
1. Arriving guests (check-in). Pickup from JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station on the evening runs below.
2. Morning day trips. Drop-off at JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, so you can head to the World Heritage area (Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Futarasan Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge).
3. Returning guests in the evening. Already checked in and coming back from town? Join the evening shuttle just like an arriving guest. This applies every night of your stay.
4. Guests checking out (by 10:00 AM). Drop-off at any of the following:
- JR Nikko Station
- Tobu Nikko Station
- Fubasami Station (JR Nikko Line)
- Shimogoshiro Station (Tobu Nikko Line)
Shuttle Schedule
Evening Pickups
| Time | Pickup Location |
|---|---|
| 4:30 PM | JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station |
| 6:30 PM | JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station |
| 9:00 PM | JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station |
Morning Runs (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
- Drop-off at JR Nikko Station or Tobu Nikko Station for guests heading to the tourist / World Heritage area
- Checkout drop-off to JR Nikko, Tobu Nikko, Fubasami, or Shimogoshiro stations
Late Arrivals (After 9:00 PM)
Pickup is from one of these stations instead:
- Shimogoshiro Station on the Tobu Nikko Line
- Fubasami Station on the JR Nikko Line
Please arrange late-arrival pickup early — ideally before you depart for Nikko.
How to Reserve Your Seat
Please confirm on the day of your arrival, at least two hours before each scheduled shuttle pickup time. The shuttle only runs if a reservation has been made for that slot.
When you message us, please include:
- Pickup time — e.g. “four thirty PM” or “four-thirty in the afternoon”
- Which station — JR Nikko or Tobu Nikko
- Color of your backpack so we can spot you in the crowd
Please use AM/PM, not a 24-hour format. Write the time the same way you would speak it — this prevents confusion.
How to Contact Us
WhatsApp is the best way to reach us. Instagram is second best. Email is a last resort.
- WhatsApp — wa.me/818012154018
- Instagram — @earthhostel.jp
- Email — riverhouse@earthhostel.jp
A note on Instagram: if we are not following each other, your message goes into the Requests folder and may not be seen for hours. Message us well in advance to make sure it is seen.
No phone calls, please. There is no mobile phone reception here in the mountains — only dependable Wi-Fi at the hostel.
Where to Wait at the Station
Wait in front of the entrance of the station you are arriving at — either JR Nikko or Tobu Nikko.
We will pick you up in either the yellow car or the white van, both of which are shown in the photos below. Tell us your station and the color of your backpack when you reserve.
A Few Practical Tips
Visiting the World Heritage area before checking in? Use the coin lockers at JR Nikko or Tobu Nikko stations to store your luggage. Then catch one of the evening shuttle pickups.
Transferring at Utsunomiya? Board the JR Nikko Line on platform 5. Not every JR Nikko Line train from Utsunomiya continues to JR Nikko — some terminate at JR Kanuma Station. Double-check the destination on the platform display before boarding.
Getting to the Trailheads
Most Nikko trailheads sit on one bus corridor — the road climbing from the Nikko stations past Lake Chuzenji to Senjogahara and Yumoto Onsen. Our shuttle gets you to the station; one bus does the rest. Every trail listed here has a full guide in our Nikko hiking guide.
From the Hostel to the Bus
The shuttle to Tobu Nikko Station or (JR) Nikko Station runs roughly 6–10 AM. Leave the hostel about 30 minutes before the bus you want — tell us your target departure the night before and we will have you there. Earlier than our standard 6 AM start is fine: we run a 5:50 AM shuttle on request. There is no curfew, so nobody minds a pre-dawn start.
The Main Stops
Journey times are from Tobu Nikko Station and hold across the day.
| Get off at | From Tobu Nikko | Trails |
|---|---|---|
| Chuzenji Onsen | 45 min | Lake Chuzenji, Nantai southern route, Kegon Falls |
| Ryuzu Falls | ~60 min | Senjogahara, Ryuzu Falls entrance |
| Akanuma | 65 min | Senjogahara |
| Kotoku Iriguchi | — | Kotoku Marsh, Nantai northern route, Nyoho |
| Yumoto Onsen | 75–85 min | Lake Yu, Yu Falls, Shirane |
Watch for Sanbonmatsu — it neighbours Kotoku Iriguchi and is easy to mix up. Stops here carry numbers, but the numbering changes every few years, so go by the name announced on board rather than a number you read online. Trails not listed above are still reachable by bus — ask us at check-in and we will point you at the right stop.
Bus Passes
Two passes cover the corridor, both valid for two consecutive days of unlimited travel. The Tobu Bus Chuzenji Onsen Pass (¥2,300) runs between the Nikko stations and Lake Chuzenji at the Osaki stop, which covers the Nantai southern route and Kegon Falls. The Tobu Bus Yumoto Onsen Pass (¥3,500) continues to Yumoto Onsen and adds Ryuzu Falls, Senjogahara and Kotoku — the one most hikers want. Full timetables and the other Nikko passes are in our Nikko bus pass and timetable guide. The current timetable runs 1 April to 30 November 2026.
Trailheads with No Bus
The safer tunnel trailhead for Shirane has no public service, so transport has to be arranged. The Yunoko trailhead is washed out — do not plan around it, whatever a map shows. For groups we can drop you at one trailhead and collect you at another, which no bus timetable can do; it is what makes point-to-point and multi-day routes practical from here.
Two Trails That Skip the Mountain Bus
Toyama sits beside the Toshogu complex and is walkable from both Tobu Nikko and JR Nikko stations, so it needs no mountain bus at all. Sasamekura is the closest trail to us: take the local bus from in front of the hostel to the centre of Okorogawa, or we will drop you off when we are already running guests to the tourist area. Its original trailhead is no longer viable and the route is being re-walked, so ask us for the current line before you set out.
Arriving from the Airport
There is a direct airport bus service. Details and routing are on our Narita to Nikko Airport Bus page.
Arriving by Car
Driving to the hostel is straightforward once you understand how Nikko is laid out — but it confuses a lot of first-time visitors.
The key thing to know: “Nikko” on road signs refers to Imaichi, the city center. The shrine and temple area — Toshogu, Rinnoji, Futarasan, Shinkyo Bridge — is what tourists usually mean when they say “Nikko,” and road signs direct you there separately as “UNESCO World Heritage” sites. JR Nikko Station and Tobu Nikko Station are located in that shrine/temple area, about 8 km from central Nikko (Imaichi).
So if a sign points to “Nikko,” it is pointing toward Imaichi, not toward the stations or the World Heritage sites. Keep this in mind while navigating — you may find yourself heading the wrong direction if you follow signs for “Nikko” alone.
GPS Coordinates
36.646480, 139.649480
Parking
Free guest parking is available across the street from the hostel.
Want a local to drive you on a tour of Nikko?
Nikko’s best spots are scattered and awkward to reach by bus.
We’re based here in the mountains of Nikko and can take your group around at your own pace — lakes, waterfalls, trailheads, and a river swim to finish.
Visiting for the day? Private Nikko day tours →
Staying with us? Our guest shuttle service →
Address
Earth Hostel — Nikko Riverhouse 2254-7 Minami-Okorogawa, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1353, Japan
Planning the rest of your stay? Take a look at the rooms, the food and riverside lounge on the Kurokawa, and the hiking trails around Nikko.
Questions about getting here? Message us on WhatsApp before you travel — it’s much easier to sort out logistics in advance than from a train platform.
Parking across the street for earth hostel : nikko riverhouse, Nikko Japan