Nasu Itinerary | Day Trips to Hot Springs & Hiking Areas in Tochigi Prefecture

Nasu is a city in Tochigi Prefecture that is steeped in history, mountains and natural attractions. The region is just a two-hour train trip from Tokyo and possesses all the elements for a relaxing weekend getaway or even a longer 3- to 4-day trip. Travelers who make Nasu their home base when visiting Tochigi will find several irresistible activities just one to two hours away in every direction. This Nasu itinerary includes information about the area’s top onsens, best hiking areas and 5-star snacks.

Shiobara Hot Springs

Shiobara is a community west of Nasu that is famous for its hot springs, or onsen. With a history that dates to the 9th century, Shiobara has remained a place of refuge for locals and tourists alike for hundreds of years. The region’s multiple onsens are fed by a high-quality water that flows from nearby Hoki River. Shiobara Hot Springs is a beautiful place to visit any time of year, but during fall, when the leaves begin changing colors, the scenery is spectacular. Nearby hiking trails, suspension bridges, waterfalls, and natural beauty make Shiobara a can’t-miss day trip from Nasu.

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Momiji-dani Ohtsuribashi (Large Suspension Bridge)

Momijidani Suspension Bridge is a 320-meter-long pedestrian-only suspension bridge that offers spectacular views of the Shiobara valley. The bridge is noted as the longest suspension bridge without a pier in Japan and stretches over a wide section of the Hoki River, just a 10-minute drive from Shiobara Hot Springs. Momijidani Suspension Bridge is famous for being a “Sacred Place for Lovers” and has seen its fair share of wedding proposals and served as a backdrop for countless romantic photo shoots. With a gift shop and café on site, the bridge is a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of the area for a few hours. Visitors can travel to this attraction all year round, and those who happen to visit during autumn will enjoy an incredible display of fall foliage.

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Hunter Mountain Shiobara

Get ready for fun in the snow at Hunter Mountain Shiobara. This pristine ski resort is one of the largest in the area and offers downhill trails, a Kids Park, ski and snowboarding schools and access to Shiobara Hot Springs. In other words, visitors of all ages are welcome to enjoy the slopes at Hunter Mountain Shiobara! The resort also offers attractions outside of winter months. During warmer months, the slopes are transformed into lily fields, and in autumn, guests can ride gondolas to get a bird’s-eye view of the gorgeous fall foliage that lights up the region with vibrant reds, yellows and oranges. Hunter Mountain Shiobara is equipped with several dining options, and restaurants are happy to prepare packed lunches for sightseers on the go.

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Photo credit: IG@haochi_instabae

Cheese Garden Nasu

Opened in 1994, Cheese Garden Nasu is a popular attraction for lovers of cheesecake and all things made of cheese! The former drive-through turned restaurant and gift shop is famous for its Goyotei cheesecake, a specialty cheesecake with a fluffy exterior and creamy center, but guests will find much more than cheesecake at Cheese Garden Nasu. As its name suggests, the shop offers all kinds of goodies, including cookies, chocolates and unique teas. Since Cheese Garden Nasu‘s founding in Nasu, the store has branched out to multiple locations throughout Tochigi prefecture, the second-largest producer of raw milk in Japan, as well as to Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama and Nagoya.

Cheese Garden Nasu locations in Tochigi

Cheese Garden Nasu (original branch): 2888 Takakuko Kokugihara, Nasu
Cheese Garden Shiobara Coffee: 531 Shimotano, Nasushiobara
Hours (both stores): 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (hours vary depending on season)

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Taketori Monogatari | Bamboo Light-Up Event at Shiobara Hot Springs

Every year from the end of January through March, Shiobara Hot Springs invites guests to enjoy bathing in the resort’s onsen at night, when the town is transformed into a fairytale wonderland. The light-up festival celebrates Taketori Monogatari, a Japanese folktale about a princess who was found in a bamboo stalk. During the festival, more than 1,000 bamboo lanterns, which are handmade by locals, line the paths around the onsens creating an illuminating experience. The lanterns stay lit from 5 to 9 p.m., and visitors are encouraged to spend the night in one of the many hot springs resorts and ryokans in Shiobara.

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Kinugawa Hot Springs

Kinugawa Hot Springs, also known as Kinugawa Onsen, is a resort town at the base of Nikko National Park that’s famous for its stunning onsens that date to the 17th century. A variety of public baths are open to visitors, and many local hotels and ryokans offer guests access to private hot springs. This town is about an hour and a half by car from Nasu and features several attractions in addition to the renowned onsens. Visitors can spend several hours at Tobu World Square, a theme park that features replicas of historical sites at 1/25th scale. Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura also is a charming attraction. This amusement park takes tourists back to the Edo period with staff dressed in traditional outfits, live shows and workshops in an ancient village setting.

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Ryuoukyo Gorge

Adventurists making a day trip from Nasu to Nikko will want to spend a day exploring Ryuoukyo Gorge. The gorge stretches between Kinugawa Hot Springs and Kawaji Onsen. In fact, visitors can even hike a 7-kilometer trail leading to Kawaji Onsen. The path is flush with natural scenery, including a 3-kilometer vista that highlights volcanic rocks that have eroded into unique patterns that resemble a dragon’s tracks. This pathway is how the valley got its name, as ryu means dragon in Japanese. Ryuoukyo Gorge is open and gorgeous year-round, but seeing the landscape in the fall is a breathtaking experience.

PLAN A NASU ITINERARY AROUND HOTELS IN TOCHIGI PREFECTURE 

Discover more Tochigi hotels & ryokans in Nasu

Hotel Laforet Nasu

Hatago Nagomi Hot Spring Hotel

Hotel Route Inn Oyama