A Complete Guide To Nasu, Tochigi
- Feb 20
- 6 min read
An expert travel guide to help you experience the Nasu region in Tochigi prefecture
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Overview
Nasu is a beautiful region in Tochigi prefecture, located north of Tokyo. It’s not well-known to foreign visitors, so it serves as the perfect destination if you're looking to escape the crowds and experience one of Japan's hidden gems. It is, however, quite well-known among Tokyo residents, due to the abundance of hot springs, beautiful mountains, and a thriving farming community. It's only 1 hour from Tokyo, making it a great destination for weekend escapes from the city. It's quite popular during summer and provides some relief from the heat while still offering nice temperatures.
The Nasu region mainly consists of four areas:
Nasu-Shiobara is a small city that serves as the gateway to Nasu, thanks to the Shinkansen, which only takes 1 hour from central Tokyo. If you're driving from Tokyo, it's common to skip this area.
The Nasu Highlands, also known as the Nasu Kogen, is a large area between Nasu-Shiobara and the peaks of Mt. Nasu. Ranging from 200m to 1200m in elevation, it contains a large number of farms and resorts, plus some museums and art galleries. You'll also find a few scenic walks and observation points.
Nasu Onsen refers to the hot spring village about halfway up Mt. Nasu. It's a small, concentrated area of traditional ryokans and day-use onsens, with over 1300 years of history.
Mt. Nasu is a volcanic mountain range that towers over the region. It offers beautiful hiking trails and a ropeway that will take you within a 50-minute hike from one of the main peaks, Mt Chausu.
For those planning to stay overnight, most people will choose a hotel in the Nasu Highlands, or a ryokan in Nasu Onsen. You could easily spend a few days in the Nasu region and still have things to see and do, especially if you have a car or stay at one of the boutique farming resorts.
Table of Contents
The Best Things To Do In Nasu
Visit the Nasu Ropeway
Hike Mt. Chausu
Walk around the Sessho Seki & Nasu Shrine
Experience the ancient Nasu Onsen
Stay at a farming resort or ryokan
Check out the museums
Location & Access
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Tokyo Station to Nasu-Shiobara
Time: ~ 68 minutes
Cost: ~ ¥6200
Nasu is easily accessed from Tokyo via the shinkansen to Nasu-Shiobara Station, which takes about 70 minutes. Once at Nasu-Shiobara, travellers will either rent a car, or catch public transport.
Car
Driving is by far the best way to experience Nasu. There are a number of rental car options around Nasu-Shiobara Station, with prices ranging from ¥7000 - ¥10,000 per day. When comparing online booking platforms, I've found that Klook consistently offers the best price. If you've never driven a car in Japan, you can read more about it in this article: A complete guide to renting cars in Japan.
Public Transport
Public transport is also an option. There's a sightseeing bus that covers all the main attractions in the Nasu Highlands. Once you arrive at Nasu-Shiobara Station, you'll need to catch a taxi or bus to the Yuai no Mori rest area. The sightseeing bus departs from Yuai no Mori once every hour. Alternatively, if you're staying at a ryokan or resort, they often provide a shuttle service that takes you straight to your accommodation.
Weather & Seasons
July to October are the most popular months to visit, thanks to the mild summer temperatures and the early fall colours. The autumn leaves have a long transition period as they make their way down the mountain, lasting about 4 weeks. The Nasu region is worth visiting year-round, and looks different depending on the season.
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Mid-April
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Early October to mid-November
☀️ Summer
June - August
Average daytime temp. 28°C
❄️ Winter
December - February
Snowfall: Occurs from November to April
Fewer crowds, the quietest time to visit
Accommodation
The Nasu region is full of incredible accommodation options, from luxury farming resorts to traditional onsen ryokans. While you can find traditional ryokans throughout Japan, I highly recommend trying one of the farming resorts for a truly unique and memorable experience. I recently stayed at the Risonare, which was a lovely unforgettable experience that helped me feel more connected to nature and the farming culture around Nasu. You can read more about the experience here: The Unique Farming Resort Only 1 Hour From Tokyo.
To check out the other resorts and ryokans in Nasu, Booking.com tend to offer the best rates.
The Best Things To Do In Nasu
1.
The Nasu Ropeway
Image Source: Sarah Winter
The Nasu Ropeway takes you up to 1684 meters, and brings you within a 50-minute hike from the peak of Mt. Chausu, offering beautiful views over the region. Bring a jacket, even if it's warm, as the wind can make the temperature feel much colder at this elevation. Due to the short distance from the peak, most people who take the ropeway also hike to Mt. Chausu. However, if you don't want to hike or the conditions are unsuitable, the ropeway is still worth the trip.
The Nasu Ropeway
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Cost: ¥1800 Roundtrip
2.
Mt. Chausu & Mt. Asahi
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Mt. Chausu is an active volcanic peak that belongs to the Nasu mountain range and offers amazing views across the region. Thanks to the ropeway, the hike is accessible to most people, making it perfect for beginners. The hike up Mt. Chausu from the ropeway only takes about 50 minutes, with a 40-minute return. Make sure you don't miss the last departure before the ropeway closes.
Those with more experience can combine the hike with its visually striking neighbour, Mt. Asahi. For the Asahi hike, you start from a trailhead located at a second parking lot above the main ropeway parking lot. The entire hike up Asahi, across to Chausu, and down the ropeway will take about 5 hours. There are multiple options for hiking the Nasu range, so it's a good idea to check the maps to decide which itinerary is best for you.
Mt. Chausu
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
3.
Sessho Seki & Nasu Shrine
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Sessho Seki is a small valley area with nice volcanic terrain that sits just above the Nasu Onsen area. It contains a legendary boulder (the Sessho Seki), hundreds of small Jizo statues, and the Nasu Shrine, which are all connected via boardwalks. It's a surprisingly beautiful area, with some nice scenery, which is quite enjoyable to walk around. An insider tip for those without a car: once you reach the boulder, there's a small trail that takes you up to a roadside observation deck for some nice views of the valley.
The Sessho Seki & Nasu Shrine
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
4.
Nasu Onsen
The Shikanoyu Onsen
Nasu Onsen is a spread-out hot spring town located about halfway up the mountain in the Nasu Highlands. It has a traditional vibe and has been known for its mineral-rich waters for over 1000 years. There are a variety of ryokans and onsen hotels here, and it's a great place to stay if you're only visiting for 1 or 2 nights.
The most famous bath house in the area is Shika-no-yu Onsen, which is said to have been established 1300 years ago. Since 1941, it's stayed true to its original construction, giving it a charming and nostalgic atmosphere. Each male and female area features six baths, which range in temperature from 41 to 46°C.
The Shikanoyu Onsen
Hours: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Cost: ¥500
5.
Resorts & Ryokans
The Risonare Nasu. Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
One of the biggest draw cards for Tokyo residents planning a weekend in Nasu, are the farming resorts and onsen hotels. For my trip, I organised a 3-night stay at a boutique farming resort, the Risonare Nasu. Even though I grew up with veggie gardens and home-grown produce, I was blown away by the experience provided at the Risonare, and highly recommend it to anyone. It was a truly unique resort, centred around local farming, fresh produce, and the celebration of nature. They had a big emphasis on providing on-site activities. Some of our favourites were harvesting our own rice, making arts and crafts in the herbal greenhouse, and drinking our own blends of herbal tea. I've linked the full review of the property below, as well as another link if you want to browse the other resorts in the Nasu highlands.
6.
The Museums
Nasu also has a number of museums that are worth checking out. The best one, hands down, is the Seiji Fujishiro Museum, which celebrates the work of world-famous shadow artist Seiji Fujishiro. The museum provides an immersive, fairytale experience where vibrant silhouettes are brought to life through intricate paper-cutting techniques and backlighting. Even if you're not into art, it's a fantastic museum to explore.
The Seiji Fujishiro Museum
Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Cost: ¥2000
Another noteworthy museum is the Stained Glass Museum, which features exhibits from the 1800s, all housed in a beautiful old building designed to look like a British manor house. The building comprises of 3 chapels, all containing a variety of pieces. There's also an antique pipe organ and regular music performances, although they are a bit weird and creepy. It's not a must-see, but the building is truly beautiful, and if you're into stained glass and old-English antiques, then you'll thoroughly enjoy spending time here.
The Stained Glass Museum
Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Cost: ¥1600
