Loved by many women for its skin-beautifying and health-promoting effects, this hot spring inn even produces its own “Shutsuyoku Bijin” facial lotion made from fresh spring water. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Okunasu Taishomura Satinoyu Onsen restored its unique “Tsuna-no-Yu” bath in August 2014. This distinctive bathing style involves holding onto a rope tied to the beams of the bathhouse while standing in waist-deep water in a bath over one meter deep. Popular in the mid-1960s, it was believed to improve peripheral nerve function and promote blood circulation, attracting many visitors seeking relief from joint and nerve pain. The bath, paved with river stones, measures 4.3 meters long, 2.6 meters wide, and 1.25–1.4 meters deep. Hot spring water wells up from below, stimulating the soles of the feet and letting bathers fully enjoy the benefits of the high-quality spring water. Day-trip visitors can also try the Tsuna-no-Yu. It is available to men on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and to women on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

March 3 is celebrated in Japan as Girls’ Day, when hina dolls dressed in luxurious kimono are displayed throughout the country. From early February until Girls’ Day, Moka City hosts the month-long “Moka Romantic Hina Doll Display.” At the Okabe Memorial Hall “Kinreisō,” a Tochigi Prefecture-designated cultural property, visitors can admire a spectacular 26-tier hina doll display—about 6 meters high—featuring imperial dolls and more. The exhibition also includes over 30 hanging hina decorations, a rare sight not to be missed. This season is also perfect for enjoying strawberry picking in the Moka area. Don’t forget to try Tochigi’s new strawberry variety, Tochiaika!  

The Usuzumi Zakura of Neo, the Jindaizakura of Yamataka, and the Miharu Takizakura are known as Japan’s Three Great Cherry Trees. These, along with the Ishiwari Zakura of Morioka, the Kosonju tree, and others, are all gathered at Tenpyo-no-Oka Park. From late March, when the Usuzumi Zakura begins to bloom, until late April, when the double cherry blossoms reach their peak, visitors can enjoy breathtaking cherry blossoms blooming throughout the park for an entire month. In addition to stalls run by local vendors, the festival features stage performances such as enka singing shows, appearances by manga characters, and rides on the “Shōnen Ressha” road train, making it a perfect spot for a family outing. The park also has a charming café called “10 Picnic Tables,” converted from an old farmhouse, offering a retro yet artsy atmosphere that contrasts with the main stage area. Visitors can enjoy delicious food while relaxing in a scenic, laid-back setting. Be sure to visit Tenpyo-no-Oka Park and experience the magic of cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The floats, intricately carved with flowers, birds, lions, and other designs, are well worth seeing. The climax of the festival can be said to be the Buttsuke (a musical ensemble) performance by nine floats with golden lanterns.

Famous for its “Warehouse Town” scenery, Tochigi City hosts the Mt. Ohira Cherry Blossom Festival in early April. Located west of the city, Mt. Ohira is covered with about 4,000 cherry trees, forming a spectacular 2-kilometer-long tunnel of blossoms along the sightseeing road from the foot of the mountain. On the opposite side of the summit, the Kenshin-daira Observatory offers panoramic views of the Kanto Plain’s picturesque rural landscapes. On clear days, you can even see Tokyo Skytree and Mt. Fuji. Nearby eateries serve Mt. Ohira’s three famous specialties—rice dumplings, grilled chicken skewers, and rolled omelets—providing a feast for both the eyes and taste buds. At the foot of Mt. Ohira stands Taisan-ji, an ancient Shingon Buddhist temple. Its grounds are home to a 360-year-old weeping cherry tree, said to have been planted by the mother of Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The weeping cherry season begins in late March. For details, please check the Tochigi City Tourism Association website.

A beloved summer tradition in Oyama City, the “Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina” is held on the first Sunday of July each year. Dressed in yukata, adults and children gather along the banks of the Omoigawa River, holding paper dolls onto which they place their wishes before sending them to float downstream. These paper dolls, known as Shimotsuke Dolls, range from 10 cm to 40 cm in height and are crafted using the artistry and tradition of Shimotsuke shibori dyeing. The paper is twisted to create beautiful patterns, with each doll featuring a unique hairstyle and kimono design. A tanzaku (narrow paper strip) is attached so participants can write their wishes. The “Omoigawa River Nagashi-bina” is open to everyone. The first 50 participants wearing yukata will receive a “Nagashi-bina” doll as a gift.

Held every summer at Tonoike Brewery in Mashiko, the popular “Japanese Sake Garden” event offers unlimited tastings of the brewery’s signature sake, Sanran. The experience also includes a special bento box filled with sake-friendly appetizers. A must-visit for sake lovers!  

In the Monzen and Furumachi districts at the heart of Shiobara Onsen, bamboo lanterns line the main streets, casting a soft, dreamlike light that enhances the charm of the hot spring town at night. The lanterns installed along the bridge railings and pathways are handcrafted by local residents, with as many as 1,000 adorning the area. During the event period, they are lit from sunset until around 9:00 p.m., creating a retro, romantic atmosphere in the streets of Shiobara Onsen.

Tochigi JIMINIE Club Mikamo Nature House is a nature experience-based educational center that opened in April 2024 within the prefectural Mikamoyama Park, which straddles Tochigi City and Sano City. You can learn about and enjoy the local area through a wide range of activities, including accommodation, experiential activities, camping, sports, and events.

This steakhouse is located in the Nasu Highlands, which spread out at the foot of the magnificent Nasu Mountains. We pursue the true flavor and deliciousness of beef and serve steaks that have been aged to perfection. We welcome you with safe, healthy, and body-friendly dishes. Please enjoy our steaks, which are cooked with care.

This resort hotel is based on three key concepts: “enjoying the rich highlands,” “feeling at one with nature,” and “all-inclusive.” All activities within the facility are included in the accommodation fee, so you can enjoy not only carefully prepared dishes using local ingredients and alcoholic beverages, but also the spa garden, cycling, and other activities to your heart's content. All rooms offer panoramic views of the highlands and forests, and the “Forest Spa” infinity open-air bath allows you to relax in a sense of unity with the forest.   【About the hot spring】 Water color: Colorless and transparent Water quality: Simple hot spring Benefits: Neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, etc.

The Kinugawa Onsen Hotel in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, is a long-established hot spring inn founded in 1931, with roots in Japan's oldest hotel. With the concept of “Yui-tabi” (bonding), we support memorable trips that deepen the bonds between family members and loved ones. Enjoy a buffet-style meal and choose from a variety of rooms to suit your preferences, and enjoy a relaxing hot spring trip to your heart's content.   【About the Hot Springs】 Kinugawa Onsen is renowned for its healing waters, often referred to as “wounds heal by the river, burns heal by the waterfall” (now known as Kinugawa Onsen). The alkaline simple spring water is known for its skin-soothing properties, making it gentle on children and those with sensitive skin. In addition to the large public bath, private baths (reservation required) are also available. Water color: Clear Water type: Simple hot spring Benefits: Neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, cold hands and feet, post-illness recovery, fatigue recovery, and overall health improvement.  

mekke is a base for “discovering” the charms of Nikko based on the theme of "feeling, connecting, and touring". Workshops that can only be experienced here, such as Nikko carving and deerskin leather crafting, are held from time to time. It also has a coworking space and community space, and is used as a place where tourists and local residents can easily connect with each other. Electric bicycles can be rented and baggage storage services are available, allowing visitors to tour Nikko in comfort. On the first floor, there is an exhibition space for Nikko's history and traditional performing arts, as well as a tourist information center, where you can freely pick up pamphlets to help you gather information for your trip. This is a new starting point for Nikko, where sightseeing, experience, and exchange are all connected in one place.

A fragrant gift from Nasu. “NASU NOTE” captures the memories of nature in scent. The whispering sounds of the Nasu forest, the scent of trees swaying in the wind. Each of these memories remains gently in our hearts. The branches and leaves of Yamizo cedar, which had previously been little used, and the plants nurtured by the rich nature of Nasu. The fresh, deep, and soothing woody notes of coniferous trees blend together, while the soft, sweet scent of freshly picked herbs spreads, and the carefully distilled citrus peel creates a calming aroma. This is a small experimental workshop where we create “natural scents” born from sustainable cycles, along with the experience of aromatic distilled water.   Experience Times 10:00-10:30 Aroma Craft Making 10:30-12:00 Aroma Distillation Experience and Aroma Craft Making 12:00-13:00 Distillery, Herb Garden, and Forest Bathing Guided Tour 14:00-14:30 Aroma Craft Making 14:30-16:00 Aromatic distillation experience and aroma craft making 16:00-17:00 Guided tour of the distillery, herb garden, and forest bathing area *Schedule as of July 2025.

The Oku-Nikko region is home to a compact collection of various environments, including waterfalls, lakes, rivers, marshes, wetlands, forests, and high mountains. The elevation ranges from approximately 1,200 meters near Lake Chuzenji to over 2,000 meters at Mount Nantai and Mount Nikko Shirane. As a result, you can enjoy a variety of plants, animals, and wild birds throughout the seasons on numerous hiking trails. Why not join a guide and explore the diverse landscapes of Oku-Nikko?

The hotel is located in Motegi, a small town rich in nature. It is surrounded by forest and does not receive city lights, so at night the sky is filled with stars. At the neighboring roadside station Motegi, they sell Yuzu Shio Ramen, which won the Grand Prix at Japan's roadside station gourmet competition, as well as freshly baked Baumkuchen. Also nearby is Mobility Resort Motegi, which offers a wide range of activities such as motorsports and athletics, making it the perfect base for car enthusiasts and families.

This hotel is just a five-minute drive from the World Heritage Site "Shrines and Temples of Nikko," including Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Surrounded by abundant nature, you can enjoy beautiful scenery that changes with the seasons from the guest room windows. The 25-square-meter rooms exude the warmth of wood, and although compact, they are spacious and functional, and the bathrooms are rain shower-type, so you can enjoy the comfort of being enveloped in soft rain. With a comfortable stay and easy access to tourist spots, this hotel is the perfect base for sightseeing in Nikko.

The hotel is located in a quiet countryside area just outside the city centre. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can spend a relaxing time while enjoying the natural scenery that is so typical of Japan. Next to the hotel is the roadside station "Utsunomiya Romantic-mura" where you can enjoy local products and local delicacies such as Utsunomiya Gyoza®, and enjoy shopping and dining. The roadside station also has a natural hot spring and a heated pool, so you can relax and refresh after your trip. Nearby tourist spots include the "Oya History Museum," with its underground temple-like space, and the "Wakayama Farm Bamboo Forest," with its vast bamboo forest as far as the eye can see. With easy access to Nikko, this hotel is the perfect base for sightseeing.