RTW: p34 – Golden Week in Nikko

Posted on May 1, 2006
Categories: japan, rtw, travel, vegetarian, 日本語タグ, 桜.
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A few conveniently stacked public holidays form Golden Week: basically a Nationwide, Week Long holliday. Hence all the tourist spots get crowded. Big time. The locals say stay in Tokyo but we weren’t keen on that. Too late to organise Kyoto, Bao Qin and I planned a trip to Nikko – just as nice for attractions and scenery, but less crowded.
Saturday Night was Hiromi’s Birthday party at Xanadu and we all went crazy! Next morning we took off for Nikko ahead of the peak period.
Nikko Park Lodge was very cozy and surrounded by trees, parks etc. The chef was a Buddhit Monk offering Zen Vegan dinners each night! He also did Yoga each morning – but 7am was way to much effort for us to attend.

Walked through the impressive shrine and temple area and stone garden, while following the river loaded with waterfalls that snaked through the whole town.
Being colder than tokyo the trees blossom a lot later, meaning a second Sakura viewing!
There are heaps of cheap onsen in Nikko, but after relaxing we had to find our way home through pitch black streets!
Tuesday it just rained. And Rained. So we missed the key waterfall of Nikko. Wednesday we hit Nikko Edo Mura (old Edo period theme park). I was in it for the Ninjas and we saw a couple of performances during day!