The Diet of Japan designated Nikkō an imperial park (帝国公園, teikoku kōen) in 1911.

[3] Beyond its striking scenery, the park is noted for its historical Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, most notably the Nikkō Tōshō-gū and Rinnō-ji.

They are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō".

[5] Nikkō National Park is noted for numerous species of plants and trees, including mizu-bashō, the white skunk cabbage of the Ozegahara marshland, maples, firs, and magnificent stands of sugi, the Japanese cedar that line the roads around Nikkō.

[3][4] Nikkō National Park is a popular destination for hiking, skiing, camping, golfing, and its numerous historical onsen hot spring resorts.