Travel Experience to Nikko's Toshogu Shrine on November 3rd

Last October, I was stuck in traffic at Nikko's Chuzenji Lake and missed visiting the World Heritage sites, which I regretted. Initially, I planned to visit Toshogu Shrine on the morning of the 2nd and then head to Tsuchiura in the afternoon. However, the fireworks event was canceled, and changing tickets took time, so I rescheduled my Nikko trip to the 3rd. With the Wide Area Pass, I didn't buy a limited express ticket from Asakusa Tobu but instead traveled from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya and then transferred to the Nikko Line. This route had a flaw; staying at the Sunshine City Prince Hotel in Ikebukuro, I could have taken the JR Shonan Line to Omiya and transferred to the Shinkansen to Utsunomiya, saving time. I wasn't aware that the Wide Area Pass allowed free rides on all JR lines in Tokyo, and I wanted to ensure a seat at Tokyo Station. It turned out that by the time the train reached Ueno, there were no seats in the unreserved section, so it worked out by chance. Upon arriving at Nikko Station, I planned to take a bus to Shinkyo Bridge, but the staff advised against it, saying it was a ten-minute walk while the bus would take 50 minutes. Indeed, private cars and buses were moving at a snail's pace. The first stop was Shinkyo Bridge, which wasn't crowded, and I took some nice photos. Then I visited Rinnoji Temple and was shocked at the queues at Toshogu Shrine. There were lines to enter the gate, buy tickets, see the Sleeping Cat, and enter the main hall. By 3 PM, staff were holding signs to stop more people from queuing. Japan's three-day holidays are truly overwhelming. On the way back, I kept seeing posts on Xiaohongshu about the traffic jams in Nikko. Fortunately, with last year's experience and a morning reminder, I walked the entire way and returned to Tokyo smoothly. The World Heritage sites are worth seeing, especially with the autumn foliage at Chuzenji Lake and the beauty of Akechidaira and Kinugawa's hot springs, making it a popular Japanese vacation spot. However, a day trip is too uncertain; staying overnight in the mountains is necessary for a fulfilling experience. Lastly, a tip: skip the Toshogu Shrine Treasure Museum. The 800 yen ticket wasn't worth it; we left after five minutes. If you must go, it's on the second floor of Ueshima Coffee, not inside the main gate of Toshogu Shrine!