HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Nature and History of Oku-Nikko
Nikko Natural Science Museum provides up-to-date information on tourism in Oku-Nikko, as well as its history and natural wonders
Tochigi Prefecture
The Nikko Natural Science Museum is a facility where visitors can enjoy learning about various aspects of Oku-Nikko, including the area’s nature, culture and history.
At the Shikisai Hall, the dynamic changes seen throughout Nikko’s four seasons are projected on a big screen that is four meters high and 20 meters wide, with a surround-sound system. It will make you feel as if you were actually standing outdoors, surrounded by nature. The nature-related exhibition room incorporates the latest digital technologies, such as high-definition large-screen images and diorama displays with AR, to enable visitors to enjoy Oku-Nikko more thoroughly. The humanities exhibition room introduces the history of Oku-Nikko starting from the Nara period (710-794). A film depicting the relationship between British Ambassador Ernest Satow and Oku-Nikko lets you travel back in time to the origin of Nikko as an international summer resort. There is also an Oku-Nikko Information Center at the museum with English-speaking staff on hand.
Self-guided e-bikes are available for rent at the museum, and hiking trails around nearby Lake Chuzenji offer a variety of experiences. Learning about the nature and history of Oku-Nikko at this museum will enhance your subsequent sightseeing and other activities.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station (about 50 minutes). From there, take the Nikko Line to JR Nikko Station (about 45 minutes). Take a bus for Chuzenji-onsen from the station and get off at Chuzenji-onsen (about 40 minutes). The museum is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
2480-1 Chugushi, Nikko-shi, Tochigi-ken
