Nikkō

File:Nikko-01.jpg

Nikkō covers a vast area (1,449.83 km²) of rural northwestern Tochigi, approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture. It is the third-largest city (by area) in Japan, behind Takayama and Hamamatsu.

Both the Watarase River and the Kinugawa River pass through the city. Lake Chūzenji and the Kegon Falls lie in Nikkō, as does the Nikko Botanical Garden. The city's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source of hydroelectric power. The area has been used for mining copper, aluminium and concrete.{{Clarify|date=March 2024|reason=Uncited. Aluminium & concrete are manufactured, not mined}}

The weather in Nikkō is fairly similar to that of the northern island of Hokkaidō, even though Nikkō is much closer to Tokyo than Hokkaidō. The elevation of Nikkō plays an important role in this fact. It will usually get cooler as one ascends the mountain. The average temperature of Nikkō is around 7 °C (44 °F){{cite web|url=http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N36E139+1202+0848142G2|title=NIKKO, 24-hr Average Temperature|work=worldclimate.com}} with the warmest months reaching only about 22 °C (72 °F){{cite web|url=http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N36E139+1200+0048142G2|title=NIKKO, Average Maximum Temperature|work=worldclimate.com}} and the coldest reaching down to about −8 °C (17 °F).{{cite web|url=http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N36E139+1204+0048142G2|title=NIKKO, Average Minimum Temperature|work=worldclimate.com}}

Fukushima Prefecture

• Hinoemata
• Minamiaizu

Gunma Prefecture

• Katashina
• Midori
• Numata

Tochigi Prefecture

• Kanuma
• Nasushiobara
• Shioya
• Utsunomiya

Nikkō has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). It has warm summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nikkō is {{convert|7.2|C|0}}. The average annual rainfall is {{convert|2202|mm|0}}. September is the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{convert|18.8|C|0}}, and lowest in January, at around {{convert|-3.9|C|0}}.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Nikkō was {{cvt|30.8|C}} on 8 August 2018. The coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-18.7|C}} on 15 March 1984.

{{Weather box

|width=auto

|location = Nikkō (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1944−present)

|collapsed = Y

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 12.7

|Feb record high C = 14.0

|Mar record high C = 18.7

|Apr record high C = 23.2

|May record high C = 26.4

|Jun record high C = 26.8

|Jul record high C = 30.4

|Aug record high C = 30.8

|Sep record high C = 28.4

|Oct record high C = 25.3

|Nov record high C = 19.1

|Dec record high C = 17.2

|Jan record low C = -16.5

|Feb record low C = -16.7

|Mar record low C = -18.7

|Apr record low C = -11.0

|May record low C = -5.4

|Jun record low C = -0.4

|Jul record low C = 3.7

|Aug record low C = 6.0

|Sep record low C = -0.2

|Oct record low C = -3.9

|Nov record low C = -9.7

|Dec record low C = -14.7

|Jan high C = -0.3

|Feb high C = 0.6

|Mar high C = 4.2

|Apr high C = 10.1

|May high C = 15.3

|Jun high C = 18.0

|Jul high C = 22.1

|Aug high C = 22.9

|Sep high C = 18.9

|Oct high C = 13.7

|Nov high C = 8.6

|Dec high C = 2.8

|Jan mean C = -3.9

|Feb mean C = -3.5

|Mar mean C = -0.3

|Apr mean C = 5.1

|May mean C = 10.3

|Jun mean C = 14.0

|Jul mean C = 18.2

|Aug mean C = 18.8

|Sep mean C = 15.2

|Oct mean C = 9.6

|Nov mean C = 4.4

|Dec mean C = -1.0

|Jan low C = -7.9

|Feb low C = -7.8

|Mar low C = -4.6

|Apr low C = 0.2

|May low C = 5.5

|Jun low C = 10.4

|Jul low C = 14.9

|Aug low C = 15.6

|Sep low C = 11.9

|Oct low C = 5.7

|Nov low C = 0.2

|Dec low C = -4.9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 57.5

|Feb precipitation mm = 48.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 108.5

|Apr precipitation mm = 154.4

|May precipitation mm = 177.1

|Jun precipitation mm = 228.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 280.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 332.5

|Sep precipitation mm = 409.0

|Oct precipitation mm = 240.9

|Nov precipitation mm = 97.6

|Dec precipitation mm = 58.4

|year precipitation mm = 2202.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 6.4

|Feb precipitation days = 6.6

|Mar precipitation days = 9.5

|Apr precipitation days = 10.7

|May precipitation days = 11.3

|Jun precipitation days = 14.3

|Jul precipitation days = 16.4

|Aug precipitation days = 15.3

|Sep precipitation days = 14.4

|Oct precipitation days = 11.1

|Nov precipitation days = 6.7

|Dec precipitation days = 6.2

|Jan snow cm = 63

|Feb snow cm = 56

|Mar snow cm = 57

|Apr snow cm = 13

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 3

|Dec snow cm = 33

|year snow cm = 227

|unit snow days = 1 cm

|Jan snow days = 12.9

|Feb snow days = 12.6

|Mar snow days = 11.0

|Apr snow days = 2.3

|May snow days = 0.1

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 0.8

|Dec snow days = 7.2

|humidity colour= green

|Jan humidity = 66

|Feb humidity = 65

|Mar humidity = 67

|Apr humidity = 69

|May humidity = 75

|Jun humidity = 87

|Jul humidity = 88

|Aug humidity = 89

|Sep humidity = 88

|Oct humidity = 83

|Nov humidity = 73

|Dec humidity = 69

|Jan sun = 164.6

|Feb sun = 167.0

|Mar sun = 189.5

|Apr sun = 187.1

|May sun = 174.1

|Jun sun = 107.8

|Jul sun = 109.6

|Aug sun = 128.2

|Sep sun = 105.1

|Oct sun = 122.8

|Nov sun = 152.1

|Dec sun = 153.2

|year sun = 1763.1

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=41&block_no=47690&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = March 22, 2022}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=41&block_no=47690&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = March 22, 2022}}}}

Per Japanese census data,{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-tochigi.php?cityid=09206|title=Nikkō population statistics|date=11 November 2018|language=en|access-date=3 January 2021}} the population of Nikkō has declined over the past 20 years.

{{Historical populations

| 1950 | 107,674

| 1960 | 110,468

| 1970 | 99,415

| 1980 | 97,515

| 1990 | 97,859

| 2000 | 98,143

| 2010 | 90,064

| 2020 | 77,661

| align = none

| footnote = Japanese census data

}}

File:1901 Japanese View and Map of Nikko, Japan - Geographicus - Nikko-japan-1901.jpg

{{nihongo|Shōdō Shōnin|勝道上人}} established the temple of Rinnō-ji in 766, followed by the temple of {{ill|Chūzen-ji|ja|中禅寺 (日光市)}} in 784. The village of Nikkō developed around these temples. The shrine of Nikkō Tōshō-gū was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during the Edo period. It is known as the burial place of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu. A number of new roads were built during this time to provide easier access to Nikkō from surrounding regions. Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnō-ji now form the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō.

During the Meiji period, Nikkō developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. The Japanese National Railways began service to Nikkō in 1890 with the Nikkō Line, followed by Tobu Railway in 1929 with its Nikkō Line.

Nikkō was incorporated as a town in 1889, part of Kamitsuga District, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was upgraded to city status in 1954 after merging with the neighboring village of Okorogawa.

In 1999, 103 structural sites encompassing the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In March 2006, Nikkō absorbed the neighboring city of Imaichi, the town of Ashio from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, and the village of Kuriyama, both from Shioya District, to create what is officially the new and expanded city of Nikkō. The new city hall is located at the former Imaichi City Hall. The former Nikkō City Hall is now known as Nikkō City Hall-Nikkō Satellite Office.

Nikkō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 24 members. Nikkō contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tochigi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Nikkō is heavily dependent on tourism to its historical and scenic sites and hot spring resorts. Hydroelectric power production, food processing, and the non-ferrous metals industry are also important components of the economy.

Nikkō has been recognized by Japan's Office for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization (Kishida Cabinet Secretariat), which promotes the development of new technologies to combat depopulation, for its "high standard" of digital transformation/telework infrastructure. Related projects have been awarded over ¥19.1M in government grants.{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2021 |title=地方創生テレワーク交付金の交付対象事業一覧（新規事業) |url=https://www.chisou.go.jp/sousei/about/mirai/pdf/chihou_tw_2.pdf#page=26 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |website=内閣府地方創生推進室}}

Hear speak see no evil Toshogu.jpg|Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil

True Light Church, Nikko 20130812.jpg|{{Nihongo|True Light Anglican Church|日光真光教会礼拝堂}}, built 1916

Tobu World Square St Peters Basilica 1.jpg|Tobu World Square

Moden depiction of ninja with ninjato (ninja sword).jpg|Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura

• Cedar Avenue of Nikko
• Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura (historical theme park)
• Futarasan Shrine
• Jizō Bosatsu statues on the Kanman Walk. A little out of the main city, locals often tell visitors to count the statues while walking, and to recount while walking back. The number is often different, fueling a legend amongst locals.
• Kanmangafuchi Abyss is a place that was formed from the lava from the eruption of Mt. Nantai{{Cite web|url=https://planetyze.com/en/japan/nikko/kanmangafuchi-abyss/information|title=About Kanmangafuchi Abyss – Nikko Travel Guide |website=Planetyze|language=en|access-date=2017-11-24}}
• Lake Chūzenji
• Nikko Botanical Garden
• Nikkō Tōshō-gū
• The three wise monkeys ("See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil")
• Tamozawa Imperial Villa
• Shrines and Temples of Nikkō (Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Futarasan Shrine, and Rinnō-ji)
• Rinnō-ji
• Shōyō-en Garden
• Taiyū-in Mausoleum
• Nikko is well known for its monkeys that walk around the town in the winter looking for food.

{{clear}}

File:Мост Синкё.jpg, one of the symbols of Nikko]]

20px JR East – Nikkō Line

• {{STN|Fubasami|x}} - {{STN|Shimotsuke-Ōsawa|x}} - {{STN|Imaichi|x}} - {{STN|Nikkō|x}}

40px Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Nikkō Line

• {{STN|Shimo-Goshiro|x}} - {{STN|Myōjin|x}} - {{STN|Shimo-Imaichi|x}} - {{STN|Kami-Imaichi|x}} - {{STN|Tōbu Nikkō|x}}

40px Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Kinugawa Line

• {{STN|Shimo-Imaichi|x}} - {{STN|Daiya-Mukō|x}} - {{STN|Ōkuwa|x|Tochigi}} - {{STN|Shin-Takatoku|x}} - {{STN|Kosagoe|x}} - {{STN|Tobu World Square|x}} - {{STN|Kinugawa-Onsen|x}} - {{STN|Kinugawa-Kōen|x}} - {{STN|Shin-Fujiwara|x}}

Yagan Railway

• {{STN|Shin-Fujiwara|x}} - {{STN|Ryūōkyō|x}} - {{STN|Kawaji-Onsen|x}} - {{STN|Kawaji-Yumoto|x}} - {{STN|Yunishigawa-Onsen|x}} - {{STN|Nakamiyori-Onsen|x}} - {{STN|Kamimiyori-Shiobara-Onsenguchi|x}} - {{STN|Ojika-Kōgen|x}}

Watarase Keikoku Railway

• {{STN|Haramukō|x}} - {{STN|Tsūdō|x}} - {{STN|Ashio|x}} - {{STN|Matō|x}}

• {{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E4}} – Yaita IC, Yaita-Kita PA
• {{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E81}} – Kiyotaki IC, Nikko IC, Imaichi IC, Dosawa IC, Osawa IC
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|119}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|120}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|121}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|122}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|352}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|400}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|461}}

File:Nikko Kirifuri skate center 2021.jpg

Nikkō is the home city to the Nikkō Ice Bucks in the Asia League Ice Hockey. Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena hosted the Women's Ice Hockey World Championships (Division I) in April 2007.

There is also a speed skating oval.

Nikko has 23 public primary schools, 12 public middle schools and three combined public primary/middle schools operated by the city government. The city has three public high schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

High schools:

• {{ill|Tochigi Prefectural Nikko Meiho High School|ja|栃木県立日光明峰高等学校}}

• Akio Fukuda, politician[http://www16.plala.or.jp/akio417/akiohp_new012.htm] Official home page {{in lang|ja}}
• Tomikazu Fukuda, politician[http://www.tomikazu.com/profile.shtml official home page]{{in lang|ja}}
• Masaru Ibuka, entrepreneur, co-founder of SonyKirkup, James. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-masaru-ibuka-1290247.html "Obituary: Masaru Ibuka"], Independent (London). December 22, 1997.
• Shoma Sato, professional baseball player"[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=sato--001sho Shoma Sato Japanese Leagues Statistics]", Baseball-Reference.com.

• {{flagicon|Japan}} Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, since December 19, 1980
• {{flagicon|USA}} Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, sister city since February 7, 1993
• {{flagicon|Taiwan}} Tainan, Taiwan, friendship city since January 16, 2009

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Nikko}}

• [http://www.city.nikko.lg.jp/ Official Website] {{In lang|ja}}
• {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.city.nikko.tochigi.jp/|title=Official Website}} {{In lang|ja}}
• [http://nikko.4-seasons.jp/ Nikko Tourist Association] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.visitnikko.jp/en/ Nikko Official Guide]

{{Tochigi}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikko, Tochigi}}

Category:Cities in Tochigi Prefecture