Nikkō 日光市 | |
|---|---|
     From top, left to right:Nikkō Tōshō-gū,Kegon Falls,Kinugawa Onsen,Lake Chūzenji andMount Nantai, andAshio Copper Mine | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 The location of Nikkō inTochigi Prefecture | |
  Nikkō | |
| Coordinates:36°43′11.4″N139°41′53.4″E / 36.719833°N 139.698167°E /36.719833; 139.698167 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Tochigi |
| First official recorded | 766 AD |
| City Settled | February 11, 1954 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Tetsuo Setaka [ja](from May 2025) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,449.83 km2 (559.78 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2021) | |
• Total | 76,452 |
| • Density | 52.732/km2 (136.57/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 0288-22-1111 |
| Address | 1 Imaichi Honchō, Nikkō-shi, Tochigi-ken 321–1292 |
| Climate | Dfb |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Cettia diphone,Alcedo atthis |
| Flower | Rhododendron,Hemerocallidoideae |
| Tree | Betula platyphylla,Autumn leaf color |
Nikkō (日光市,Nikkō-shi;IPA:[ɲikkoꜜːɕi]) is acity inTochigi Prefecture,Japan. As of 2 December 2020[update], the city's population was 80,239, in 36,531 households. The population density was 55 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 1,449.83 square kilometres (559.78 sq mi).
Nikkō is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists. Attractions include themausoleum ofshōgunTokugawa Ieyasu at theNikkō Tōshō-gū shrine, and that of his grandsonTokugawa Iemitsu (Iemitsu-byō Taiyū-in), along withFutarasan shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are many famousonsen (hot springs) in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 meters.[2]
The Japanese saying "Never saykekkō until you've seen Nikkō" (日光を見ずして結構と言うなかれ)" – withkekkō (結構) meaning splendid, magnificent, or satisfied – is a reflection of the beauty and sites in Nikkō.[3][4]
Nikkō covers a vast area (1,449.83 km2) of rural northwestern Tochigi, approximately 140 km north ofTokyo and 35 km west ofUtsunomiya, the capital ofTochigi Prefecture. It is the third-largest city (by area) in Japan, behindTakayama andHamamatsu.
Both theWatarase River and theKinugawa River pass through the city.Lake Chūzenji and theKegon Falls lie in Nikkō, as does theNikko Botanical Garden. The city's many mountains and waterfalls have made it an important source ofhydroelectric power. The area has been used for miningcopper,aluminium andconcrete.[clarification needed]
The weather in Nikkō is fairly similar to that of the northern island ofHokkaido, even though Nikkō is much closer toTokyo than Hokkaido. 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)[5] with the warmest months reaching only about 22 °C (72 °F)[6] and the coldest reaching down to about −8 °C (17 °F).[7]
Nikkō has aHumid continental climate (KöppenDfb). It has warm summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nikkō is 7.2 °C (45 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,202 millimetres (87 in). September is the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 18.8 °C (66 °F), and lowest in January, at around −3.9 °C (25 °F).[8]
The highest temperature ever recorded in Nikkō was 30.8 °C (87.4 °F) on 8 August 2018.[9] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) on 15 March 1984.[9]
| Climate data for Nikkō (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1944−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) | 14.0 (57.2) | 18.7 (65.7) | 23.2 (73.8) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.8 (80.2) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.8 (87.4) | 28.4 (83.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 19.1 (66.4) | 17.2 (63.0) | 30.8 (87.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) | 0.6 (33.1) | 4.2 (39.6) | 10.1 (50.2) | 15.3 (59.5) | 18.0 (64.4) | 22.1 (71.8) | 22.9 (73.2) | 18.9 (66.0) | 13.7 (56.7) | 8.6 (47.5) | 2.8 (37.0) | 11.4 (52.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.9 (25.0) | −3.5 (25.7) | −0.3 (31.5) | 5.1 (41.2) | 10.3 (50.5) | 14.0 (57.2) | 18.2 (64.8) | 18.8 (65.8) | 15.2 (59.4) | 9.6 (49.3) | 4.4 (39.9) | −1.0 (30.2) | 7.2 (45.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −7.8 (18.0) | −4.6 (23.7) | 0.2 (32.4) | 5.5 (41.9) | 10.4 (50.7) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | 11.9 (53.4) | 5.7 (42.3) | 0.2 (32.4) | −4.9 (23.2) | 3.3 (37.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.5 (2.3) | −16.7 (1.9) | −18.7 (−1.7) | −11.0 (12.2) | −5.4 (22.3) | −0.4 (31.3) | 3.7 (38.7) | 6.0 (42.8) | −0.2 (31.6) | −3.9 (25.0) | −9.7 (14.5) | −14.7 (5.5) | −18.7 (−1.7) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 57.5 (2.26) | 48.6 (1.91) | 108.5 (4.27) | 154.4 (6.08) | 177.1 (6.97) | 228.8 (9.01) | 280.5 (11.04) | 332.5 (13.09) | 409.0 (16.10) | 240.9 (9.48) | 97.6 (3.84) | 58.4 (2.30) | 2,202 (86.69) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 63 (25) | 56 (22) | 57 (22) | 13 (5.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (1.2) | 33 (13) | 227 (89) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.4 | 6.6 | 9.5 | 10.7 | 11.3 | 14.3 | 16.4 | 15.3 | 14.4 | 11.1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 128.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 1 cm) | 12.9 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | 7.2 | 46.9 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 66 | 65 | 67 | 69 | 75 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 88 | 83 | 73 | 69 | 77 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 164.6 | 167.0 | 189.5 | 187.1 | 174.1 | 107.8 | 109.6 | 128.2 | 105.1 | 122.8 | 152.1 | 153.2 | 1,763.1 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[9][8] | |||||||||||||
Per Japanese census data,[10][1] the population of Nikkō has declined over the past 20 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 107,674 | — |
| 1960 | 110,468 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 99,415 | −10.0% |
| 1980 | 97,515 | −1.9% |
| 1990 | 97,859 | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 98,143 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 90,064 | −8.2% |
| 2020 | 77,661 | −13.8% |
| Japanese census data[1][10] | ||
Shōdō Shōnin (勝道上人) established the temple ofRinnō-ji in 766, followed by the temple ofChūzen-ji in 784. The village of Nikkō developed around these temples. The shrine ofNikkō Tōshō-gū was completed in 1617 and became a major draw of visitors to the area during theEdo period. It is known as the burial place of theshōgunTokugawa 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, andRinnō-ji now form theUNESCOWorld Heritage SiteShrines and Temples of Nikkō.
During theMeiji period, Nikkō developed as a mountain resort, and became particularly popular among foreign visitors to Japan. TheJapanese National Railways began service to Nikkō in 1890 with theNikkō Line, followed byTobu Railway in 1929 with itsNikkō Line.
Nikkō was incorporated as a town in 1889, part ofKamitsuga District, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was upgraded to city status in 1954 after merging with the neighboring village ofOkorogawa.
In 1999, 103 structural sites encompassing theShrines and Temples of Nikkō were inscribed on theUNESCO World Heritage List.
In March 2006, Nikkō absorbed the neighboring city ofImaichi, the town ofAshio fromKamitsuga District, the town ofFujihara, and the village ofKuriyama, both fromShioya 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 amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city legislature of 24 members. Nikkō contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part ofTochigi 2nd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Nikkō is heavily dependent on tourism to its historical and scenic sites andhot 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" ofdigital transformation/telework infrastructure. Related projects have been awarded over ¥19.1M in government grants.[11]
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Tōbu Railway –Tōbu Kinugawa Line
Tōhoku Expressway – Yaita IC, Yaita-Kita PA
Nikkō Utsunomiya Road – Kiyotaki IC, Nikko IC, Imaichi IC, Dosawa IC, Osawa IC
National Route 119
National Route 120
National Route 121
National Route 122
National Route 352
National Route 400
National Route 461
Nikkō is the home city to theNikkō Ice Bucks in theAsia League Ice Hockey.Nikkō Kirifuri Ice Arena hosted the Women'sIce Hockey World Championships (Division I) in April 2007.
There is also aspeed skating oval.
Nikko has 23 publicprimary schools, 12 publicmiddle schools and three combined public primary/middle schools operated by the city government. The city has three publichigh schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
High schools:
Odawara,Kanagawa Prefecture, since December 19, 1980
Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, sister city since February 7, 1993
Tainan,Taiwan, friendship city since January 16, 2009
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