The Limited Express Kirifuri for Tobu Nikko Station

The Kirifuri is a limited express service operated by Tobu Railways that runs between Tobu Asakusa Station and Tobu Nikko Station. This train only runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and there is only one single Kirifuri service each way on these days. Though there are other more regular limited express services for Tobu Nikko, the Kirifuri is the cheapest.

At Tobu Asakusa Station the Kirifuri departs from platforms 3 and 4. There is an information desk at the entrance to these limited express platforms where you should show your ticket before boarding. As the Kirifuri is operated by Tobu Railway, which is a private company, it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Key Destinations

The Kirifuri stops at the following stations:

Tokyo Skytree – Kita Senju – Kasukabe – Tochigi – Shin-Tochigi – Shin-Kanuma – Shimo-Imaichi – Tobu Nikko

The key destinations with rail fares (including limited express surcharges) and example train times are given below.

Tokyo Skytree Station

This station is named after Tokyo Skytree: the world’s tallest tower at 634 meters high. The Skytree is a major tourist destination in Tokyo with two observation decks at the top and plenty of shopping and dining facilities below.

Kita-Senju Station

Kita-Senju is an important transportation hub where you can transfer to the JR Joban Line, the Tsukuba Express, and Tokyo Metro’s Chiyoda and Hibiya lines.

Tochigi Station

Tochigi City has many beautifully preserved historical buildings and is especially well known for its old warehouses called “kura”. Reiheishi Road has a number of these buildings and Tochigi Kuranomachi Museum of Art occupies three converted 200-year-old warehouses. For more details of Tochigi’s sightseeing attractions you can download a PDF sightseeing map. Transfer here to the JR Ryomo Line.

Shimo-Imaichi Station

Transfer here to the Tobu Kinugawa Line. Tobu operate special 35 minute steam locomotive rides between Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa Onsen stations on Saturdays and public holidays.

Tobu Nikko Station

This station serves Nikko: one of Japan’s major tourist destinations. Nikko is famous for its many shrines and temples, but the key attraction among these is the Toshogu. This beautifully decorated shrine was built around the tomb of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu who died in 1616. Nikko is also known for its hot springs, its wild monkeys, and for the graceful Shinkyo Bridge (part of the Futarasan Shrine) which is considered to be one of the most beautiful bridges in Japan.

Timetable

The times for the main stops on the Kirifuri’s route are given below:

Service Number	Tobu Asakusa	Tokyo Skytree	Kita Senju	Tochigi	Tobu Nikko
Kirifuri #281	10.29	10.32	10.41	11.41	12.34
Service Number	Tobu Nikko	Tochigi	Kita Senju	Tokyo Skytree	Tobu Asakusa
Kirifuri  #284	13.59	14.43	15.52	16.01	16.05

The Limited Express Spacia Kegon and the Limited Express Revaty Kegon also run between Tobu Asakusa Station and Tobu Nikko Station. These trains have the advantage of running on week days as well as weekends. However, they are a little bit more expensive than the Kirifuri. Full timetables for all limited express services from Tobu Asakusa Station can be downloaded from the official Tobu Railway website.

Buying Tickets

Limited express trains require seat reservations, so you will have to pay a limited express surcharge as well as paying for your train ticket. You can buy limited express tickets from automated machines on the 1st and 2nd floor of Tobu Asakusa Station, or you can buy them from the ticket office on the 1st floor.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.