Jan 4, 2017 - 2 min read

Kinugawa Onsen

A day trip to a quaint onsen town

By Peter Sidell

Community writer

The riverside is lined with onsen hotels

In the northern part of Tochigi prefecture two or three hours north of Tokyo, Kinugawa Onsen is a popular hot-spring resort town, surrounded by dramatic hills, and built along a river that's carved a steep gorge into the land.

It's heavily developed, and the river is lined in places by towering resort hotels, some of which have onsen (hot-spring baths) that are open to the public; the staff at the station's information desk can make suggestions and provide some discount coupons. That part of the town isn't so attractive, but I enjoyed bathing in the onsen, and the hotel I went to had a very well-stocked gift shop. I imagine the others do too.

The less developed part of town has better scenery: it's possible to follow a path that follows the course of the river, though the water is far below you at the bottom of the gorge. This path takes you to the enjoyable Tateiwa Otsuribashi, a suspension bridge that's fun to walk across, and gives a good view of the river.

If your feet are weary from walking but you don't have the time or inclination for an onsen, in front of the station there's a free little foot spa. You can soak your aching feet here before catching your train or retiring to your hotel.