Nasu: the ideal hot-spring/ryokan retreat location
Updated: Aug 28
Looking for an alternative to Hakone? Meet Nasu. Just 70 minutes from Tokyo by direct shinkansen, this volcanic highland destination is a favourite escape for Tokyo residents, offering onsen, mountain landscapes, farm-to-table food and a slower pace of life. In this issue, discover why Nasu is beginning to attract international attention — and some of the experiences that make it worth adding to a Japan itinerary.
NEWS: Nasu Enters the Rough Guide to Japan
Nasu is featured for the first time in the new Rough Guide to Japan, publishing 1 September 2026. The guide highlights Nasu Kogen’s hot springs, mountain landscapes, artisanal food and long-standing connection with Japan’s Imperial Family. With its combination of easy access, outdoor experiences and restorative onsen, Nasu is an increasingly compelling alternative to the more heavily visited Hakone and Mt Fuji region.
WHY NASU: The Tokyoite Alternative to Hakone
Just 70 minutes from Tokyo by direct Tohoku Shinkansen, Nasu offers an easy way to add a few days of nature and wellness to a Japan itinerary. While international visitors often head to Hakone for hot springs and mountain scenery, Nasu is where many Tokyo residents go to escape the city. Here, volcanic landscapes, long-established onsen, excellent local food and welcoming ryokan come without the same crowds. The Imperial Family even maintains a summer villa here. For travellers seeking a slower, more authentic side of Japan, Nasu makes an appealing Tokyo extension.
STAY: Daikokuya – 475 Years of Hospitality & Contemporary Art
Established in 1551, Itamuro Onsen Daikokuya is one of Nasu’s most distinctive places to stay. This historic ryokan combines restorative hot springs and refined Japanese cuisine with contemporary art, displayed throughout its interiors and gardens. Guests can enjoy meals featuring seasonal ingredients from the surrounding mountains, farms and rivers, served on beautiful locals ceramics and bamboo ware. It is a particularly strong fit for travellers interested in art, design, wellness and Japanese hospitality.
EXPLORE: Walk on an Active Volcano
Nasu’s volcanic landscape is one of its defining features — and autumn is an especially spectacular time to experience it. A guided day tour takes travellers onto the slopes of Mount Chausu, one of the Nasu Five Peaks, for a two-hour hike through raw volcanic scenery and vivid autumn foliage. Less-active travellers can opt for a gentler walk or explore by ropeway before enjoying lunch at a forest hideaway bakery.
See the Visit Nasu website for a suggested three-day Nasu itinerary, including the volcano hike.
EAT: Nasu’s Farm-to-Table Food Culture
Nasu’s volcanic soil, clear mountain water and cool highland climate have created a thriving food culture, from dairy farms and artisan bakeries to organic sake and farm-to-table restaurants. The region is Honshu’s largest dairy-producing area, while local producers also make excellent rice, vegetables, wagyu, cheese and sake.
For travellers looking to experience Nasu through food, there is plenty to discover — often with the producers and landscapes behind the ingredients just minutes away.
MEET KYUBII: Nasu’s Nine-Tailed Fox
Keep an eye out for Kyubii, Nasu’s nine-tailed fox mascot, inspired by one of the region’s most enduring legends. The story centres on Sessho-seki, or the “Killing Stone”, where a nine-tailed fox was said to have been killed before its body transformed into a huge, poisonous stone. Today, Sessho-seki and nearby Nasu Onsen Shrine make an atmospheric walking stop in the Yumoto area, combining volcanic scenery, folklore and Japanese mythology.
The legend is celebrated each September at the Nasu Kyubii Festival, featuring nine-tailed fox-themed performances, a portable shrine and local food. The 2026 festival is scheduled for 27 September.
NASU IN THE GUIDEBOOKS
Rough Guide to Japan isn't the only recent international recognition for Nasu. Following features in TEMPURA and Lodestar Anthology, the destination is increasingly appearing in international media as travellers and writers discover its combination of volcanic landscapes, onsen, food and slower-paced rural experiences.
For media and trade enquiries, sample itineraries and image requests, contact:Kylie Clark, kylie.clark@kylieconsultancy.com & Michael Stock michael.stock@japan-san.net
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