mekke Nikko Kyodo Center

The mekke Nikko Kyodo Center serves as a cultural discovery hub located on Nikko-kaido Road, positioned strategically between the train stations and Nikko's UNESCO World Heritage shrines and temples. This facility operates as both a tourist information center and community space where visitors can engage with Nikko's traditional crafts and local culture. The center's name "mekke" reflects its mission centered on "feeling, connecting, and touring" Nikko's attractions.

Nikko's artistic heritage traces back to the 17th century when the region emerged as a sacred site during the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. During this period, approximately 400,000 skilled wood carvers from across Japan gathered to create over 5,000 intricate designs for the shrine complex. After completing their work, many artisans remained in Nikko, establishing the tradition of Nikko-bori wood carving. This unique craft technique, using a specialized tool called the "hikkaki" (scratch blade), continues today as one of Japan's distinctive regional art forms handed down since the Edo period.

The center offers hands-on workshops where visitors can create their own Nikko-bori pieces by selecting from traditional patterns or designs featuring animals associated with the shrines, such as monkeys, cats, and dragons. Workshop sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes and cost approximately ¥1,700 to ¥2,000, with all necessary tools and instruction provided. Participants can carve their chosen design onto mirrors, picture frames, or nameplates.

Additional workshops include deerskin leather crafting. The first floor houses exhibition spaces showcasing Nikko's history, traditional performing arts, and natural environment, along with a comprehensive tourist information center stocked with free pamphlets and maps. Beyond cultural experiences, the center provides practical services including electric bicycle and electric scooter rentals (scooters require a valid motorcycle or driver's license), baggage storage facilities, and coworking spaces where tourists and local residents can connect.

The center is accessible via a 5-minute bus ride from either JR Nikko Station or Tobu-Nikko Station on the World Heritage Tour bus, alighting at the Nikko Kyodo Center Mae bus stop. Visitors traveling from Tokyo can take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station (approximately 50 minutes), then transfer to the JR Nikko Line to Nikko Station (about 40 minutes). The center occupies a convenient location roughly halfway between the train stations and Toshogu Shrine, making it an ideal starting point for exploring Nikko's World Heritage area. Entry to the exhibition spaces and tourist information center is free of charge, though workshop fees apply separately.