Tokyo to Nikko by Train: SPACIA X
Take the Tobu SPACIA X limited express from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko in about 1 hour 50 minutes. All seats are reserved, and a standard seat costs about 3,140 to 3,540 yen one way.
Take the Tobu Railway limited express SPACIA X from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko: four of its six daily trains in each direction serve Tobu-Nikko, and the ride takes about 1 hour 50 minutes.[1] Every seat is reserved, so buy your limited express ticket before you board.[2]
Through limited express trains from Shinjuku are the alternative if you start on the west side of the city.
Map: Natural Earth (public domain) · Lines drawn through the stations of each service
Which train to take
SPACIA X trains 1, 3, 5 and 11 leave Asakusa at 07:50, 09:00, 10:00 and 15:00 and arrive at Tobu-Nikko at 09:39, 10:50, 11:49 and 16:49. Trains 7 and 9 (12:30 and 14:00) continue to Kinugawa-onsen instead and do not serve Tobu-Nikko directly.[1] Going back, trains 2, 4, 6 and 12 leave Tobu-Nikko at 10:20, 11:55, 12:55 and 17:44. The operator adds special trains on some days, so the calendar on its SPACIA X page is the one to check.[1]
Tobu also runs Kegon and Revaty limited express trains on the same line, listed in the operator's limited express timetable.[3] For a day trip, SPACIA X 1 or 3 out and a late afternoon train back gives you most of the day in Nikko.
Classes and fares
The ticket has two parts: a base fare and a limited express ticket. From Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko the base fare is 1,400 yen. The standard seat limited express charge is 1,740 yen in the off-season, 1,940 yen in the normal period and 2,140 yen in peak season, and the premium seat charge is 2,320, 2,520 and 2,720 yen.[1] That puts a standard seat between 3,140 and 3,540 yen per adult one way.
Rooms cost extra. A compartment for up to four people is 8,000 yen per room and a Cockpit Suite for up to seven is 18,000 yen per room, in addition to each person's fare and express charge. The Cockpit Lounge on car 1 costs 500 yen for one person.[1] Children pay half fare.
How to book
Tobu sells limited express tickets online on its international ticket site, from 09:00 on the same date one month before travel. You can also buy at ticket machines and counters at Tobu stations, except Oshiage, Minami-Yorii, Yorii and unstaffed stations.[4] Same-day tickets must be bought at least 3 minutes before departure.[4]
You still need a base fare ticket or an IC card such as PASMO, bought separately. The Japan Rail Pass does not cover Tobu Railway.[4] The NIKKO PASS world heritage area costs 3,000 yen and the all area pass 8,000 yen for adults. Both cover one round trip between Asakusa and Shimo-Imaichi and the Tobu lines beyond it, but the limited express ticket is sold separately.[5]
Stations
The trains leave from Tobu Asakusa and also stop at Tokyo Skytree and Kita-Senju, so you can board closer to home if you stay in the east or north of the city. After Kasukabe they stop at Tochigi, Shin-Kanuma and Shimo-Imaichi, where Nikko and Kinugawa trains separate, and then run the last 10 minutes to Tobu-Nikko.[6]
On board
All seats are large swivel recliners with a footrest, and all seats are non-smoking.[2] Car 6 holds six compartment rooms, and the cafe counter in car 1 serves coffee and craft beer.[1]
From Shinjuku or by JR
Through limited express trains from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro run to Tobu-Nikko in about 2 hours. These are not covered by the Tobu online sale or its counters, and the NIKKO PASS does not cover this route.[6] The JR alternative is the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and then the JR Nikko Line to Nikko Station, which is a separate station from Tobu-Nikko.[7]
Timetable
Tokyo to Nikko
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Days | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Limited Express SPACIA X | 07:50Asakusa | 09:39 Tobu-Nikko | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 3Limited Express SPACIA X | 09:00Asakusa | 10:50 Tobu-Nikko | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 5Limited Express SPACIA X | 10:00Asakusa | 11:49 Tobu-Nikko | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 7Limited Express SPACIA X | 12:30Asakusa | 14:32 Kinugawa-onsen | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 9Limited Express SPACIA X | 14:00Asakusa | 16:04 Kinugawa-onsen | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 11Limited Express SPACIA X | 15:00Asakusa | 16:49 Tobu-Nikko | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
Nikko to Tokyo
| Train | Departs | Arrives | Days | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2Limited Express SPACIA X | 10:20Tobu-Nikko | 12:15 Asakusa | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 4Limited Express SPACIA X | 11:55Tobu-Nikko | 13:45 Asakusa | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 6Limited Express SPACIA X | 12:55Tobu-Nikko | 14:45 Asakusa | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 8Limited Express SPACIA X | 15:19Kinugawa-onsen | 17:35 Asakusa | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 10Limited Express SPACIA X | 16:40Kinugawa-onsen | 18:45 Asakusa | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
| 12Limited Express SPACIA X | 17:44Tobu-Nikko | 19:35 Asakusa | daily | Standard seat, Premium seat, Compartment (4 people), Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) |
Timetable source: Tobu SPACIA X boarding information[1]. Times change with timetable revisions. Check the operator's timetable before you travel.
Classes and fares
| Class | Type | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Standard seat Swivel recliner seat with footrest, reserved. | Seat Air-conditioned | JPY 3,140 to JPY 3,540[1] per adult, Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko: base fare 1,400 plus standard limited express charge 1,740 (off-season) to 2,140 (peak) |
| Premium seat | Seat Air-conditioned | JPY 3,720 to JPY 4,120[1] per adult, Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko: base fare 1,400 plus premium limited express charge 2,320 (off-season) to 2,720 (peak) |
| Compartment (4 people) Car 6, room for four people facing each other. | Private cabin Air-conditioned | JPY 8,000[1] room charge per room, added to each passenger's base fare and limited express charge |
| Cockpit Suite (up to 7 people) | Private cabin Air-conditioned | JPY 18,000[1] room charge per room, added to each passenger's base fare and limited express charge |
Stations
Main stations in travel order. Distances from the first station, where the operator publishes them.
How to book
Book with the operator
TOBU Japan Trip Tickets[4] · Sales open 30 days before departure.
At the station
ticket machines and counters at Tobu stations, except Oshiage, Minami-Yorii, Yorii and unstaffed stations[4]
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Tobu Railway: SPACIA X boarding information: timetable, fees, how to buy. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
- [2] Tobu Railway: Limited Express SPACIA. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
- [3] Tobu Railway: Limited express train timetable. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
- [4] Tobu Railway: How to purchase limited express tickets. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
- [5] Tobu Railway: TOBU Japan Trip Tickets: NIKKO PASS. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
- [6] Tobu Railway: Access information: Nikko. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
- [7] East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Nikko Station timetable. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
The SPACIA X from Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko takes about 1 hour 50 minutes. Through trains from Shinjuku take about 2 hours.
A standard seat on SPACIA X costs 3,140 to 3,540 yen per adult one way, depending on the season: 1,400 yen base fare plus a limited express charge of 1,740 to 2,140 yen.
Yes. All seats are reserved and you must buy the limited express ticket before boarding, online or at Tobu station machines and counters.
Online sales open at 09:00 on the same date one month before travel. Same-day tickets must be bought at least 3 minutes before departure.
No. The Japan Rail Pass does not cover Tobu Railway, so you need a Tobu base fare ticket or IC card plus a limited express ticket.
No. The pass covers one round trip of base fare between Asakusa and Shimo-Imaichi and the Tobu lines beyond it. The limited express ticket is bought separately.