5 days staying in Nikko

Hello, I will be visiting Japan in late February to mid March. My boyfriend has a conference in Nikko March 12 - 16, so I will have 5 days to entertain myself while based in Nikko. I prefer to return to Nikko each evening, but would be up for staying elsewhere for one night if it were worth it. I know I could spend one or two days seeing the standard tourist sites, but are there 5 days worth of activities in and around Nikko? We will be traveling by public transit the rest of the time, would it be worthwhile to rent a car for my time in Nikko?

Thank you so much for your help!

Nikko and the Okunikko region can keep you busy for two days. Possibly three days if you like hiking. Nearby Kinugawa has theme parks and hot springs that can keep you busy for an additional day. And in the remote valleys beyond Kinugawa are some very interesting hot springs. So, if you like a slow travel pace, I think it is possible to stay busy for five days.

About attractions in Nikko:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html

And around Kinugawa Onsen and beyond:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3875.html

I will be in the area about a month after you. Currently my plan is to stay in Utsunomiya for about a week and travel to Nikko for a day or two. From Utsunomiya I also have the option of going to Mito to visit Kairaku-en. Also I could take the Shinkansen north to Sendai. There also seem to be some good roads for cycling in Togichi prefecture :)

I really must start reading the questions better before I reply :( I think you may be better off with a car. I would still think you can find plenty to do in the Nikko area. I would consider a trip to Kairaku-en but it is quite a distance. Please excuse my stupidity, its age related I'm sure :)

If you are interested in the arts, then a day trip to the pottery village of Mashiko is a delight.
This link tells you how to get there from Utsunomiya
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tokyo/0085022415.html
Enjoy!