from Nikko to Niigata

Hi! can anyone tell me how easy it is to get from Nikko to Niigata and how long it takes without going back to Tokyo?

The fastest way is to go by shinkansen via Omiya (just north of Tokyo). The one way trip takes about 4 hours and costs around 13,500 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass.

The most practical alternative that does not go through Greater Tokyo would be:
1) JR Nikko Line to Utsunomiya
2) JR Tohoku Shinkansen to Koriyama
3) JR Banetsusai Line to Niigata

With good connections it takes around 7 hours and costs around 9000 yen. Fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass.

Instead of taking the shinkansen from Utsunomiya to Koriyama, you could also take non-JR trains (Tobu and Yagan Railways) from Nikko to Aizu-Wakamatsu, but it is even more complicated and time-consuming.

Thanks for that Uji, 4 hours will be no problem.
I had been using the Hyperdia web site to find the answer, but it was coming out with some crazy suggestions!