Nasushiobara: Where Royalty Relax

Food, activities, onsen, history and culture

Louise Archer Oct 19, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Autumn in the Nasu Highlands is a truly magnificent time, with wonderful drives through the Nasu mountains, cable cars and leisurely walks through the daily changing color</p>

<p>Mt. Nasu, our local active "Volcano", letting of a bit of steam. Mt Nasu in one of Japan's top 100 mountains, surrounded by walking trails and stunning views</p>

<p>Beautiful traditional ryokan (inns) abound in the region. This one is close to the station, but there are many in the mountains easily accessible by car or even bus</p>

<p>Nasu Garden Outlet has nothing to do with Gardens; its our local outlet mall.  All the major brands, all in one place. Buses from Nasu station run regularly every day</p>

<p>Seiji Fujishiro Gallery & Museum: The celebrated Kiri-e (Japanese art of paper cutting) artist has a stunning gallery in Nasu Highlands</p>

<p>Tobu World Square has over 100 1:25 scale models of famous buildings from around the world including UNESCO World Cultural and Heritage Sites, more than 20,000 Bonsai trees and over 140,000 little people engaged in all sorts of activities</p>

<p>Nasu Animal safari park -  700 animals of 70 different species.  Drive your car or take the animal bus. Lots of things to do and see</p>

<p>Nasu Highland Amusement park: Roller coasters and rides for all the family</p>

<p>Minamigaoka Dairy: Action packed ranch with everything from animal rides, trout fishing, a petting zoo and local produce</p>

<p>The Stained Glass Museum is decorated with authentic stained glass from the 1800's and is styled like a English Manor house.  It's also a popular spot for weddings</p>

<p>Heisei no Mori is an area of forest that used to belong to the nearby Imperial Villa. It was gifted to the people and is now a diverse, natural forest area open to the public</p>

<p>Kinugawa Onsen area is easily accessible from Nasu, with many onsen hotels and public onsen as well as local sights</p>

<p>Sessho-seki or "Killing Stone" is the site of part of a famous Japanese story. Allegedly the stone kills anything that touches it</p>

<p>On the way up to Sesshou Seki, the path is lined with small statues. These statues were placed here to represent lost babies</p>

<p>Nasukogen Yuai no Mori is a roadside station that sells regional produce and crafts. There is food, crafts, wood, pottery and glassware in extensive grounds with outdoor sculptures</p>

<p>Local produce is available everywhere in the Nasu region. Weekend markets, local produce shops and roadside shops provide lots of great gifts and take-homes</p>

<p>Local produce includes many products made from blueberries: Wine, drink, salt, chocolate and shochu! </p>

<p>Shikanoyu is an example of the rustic, historical onsen that abound in the Nasu Yumoto region.</p>

<p>Nasu is famous for its onsen. The abundance of rustic, charming, original onsen in the region is amazing. It would take years to try them all: Milky, salty, iron, all different types, both indoor and outdoor, often for just a few hundred yen admission</p>

<p>To be called an onsen, the water must be from a natural volcanic source and naturally heated, or more often it is cooled to a safe temperature to sit in</p>

<p>The walking trails have some stunning views and are pretty all year round</p>

<p>Lots of boardwalks make it easier to cross some of the rougher or marshy areas</p>

<p>Penny Lane Bakery and Cafe is a locally famous Beatles themed cafe with amazing pastries and wonderful gardens to relax in while you sip your coffee and eat your goodies</p>

Nasushiobara is one of the places where the Imperial family has a villa, coming here to relax and get away from the hustle of the city. Nasu and the surrounding area has so much to see and do. It is especially stunning in autumn with the colors of the foliage, but the views are amazing all year round. There are many hiking trails and lots of onsen to soak in after a day spent in the outdoors. Easily accessible from Tokyo by Shinkansen, there are buses regularly going to most of the major spots and hire cars available at the station. Here are around 20 interesting places to enjoy!

Louise Archer @louise.archer

I am an Aussie expat (ex Sydney, Perth, ex UK) living in rural Japan. Im very passionate about people seeing more of Japan than the big cities, which are wonderful places, but there are so many hidden treasures in the countryside and lesser known regions. For the three years I have been living he...