Nasu this Winter: Hot Springs, Satoyama Cuisine & Capybara Baths

Welcome to the second edition of our Nasu newsletter. In this issue, we bring you the latest from Nasu: the launch of Nasu Tourism’s first English-language website (visit-nasu.com), a 12-page feature on the region in TEMPURA magazine, and Toyota’s newest SUV named after Nasu. Plus, discover insider tips on where to stay, soak, eat, explore, and enjoy seasonal highlights — everything you need to inspire clients and audiences to experience Japan’s hidden highlands.

Nasu steps into the spotlight. Nasu — a pristine highland region long loved for hiking, hot springs, and outdoor adventure — is now capturing global attention. Toyota’s 2026 Corolla Cross Nasu Edition concept SUV draws its design and spirit directly from Mt. Nasu and the region’s rugged outdoors culture. Unveiled recently in the U.S., it shines an international spotlight on this lesser-known Japanese destination, linking the region’s pristine forests, volcanic landscapes, and outdoor lifestyle with a brand celebrated worldwide for quality and innovation. Alongside this, Nasu Tourism launches its first-ever English website, visitnasu.com, providing a range of sample itineraries for planning trips to the region.

NASU in the Media

French magazine TEMPURA, now published in English, features a 12‑page exploration of Nasu — its forests, mountains, onsen, temples, and food culture. The story spans two issues, reflecting just how much there is to experience in Nasu! Part 1 is in TEMPURA issue No. 22, now on sale, covering a cycling tour with Bicycle Tours Japan, Zen meditation at Daioji Temple, hip cafés in Kuroiso, and visits to local dairy, cheese, and hot springs. See the Instagram reel for a visual taste, and purchase the latest issue of TEMPURA from UK stockists including Shreeji Newsagents and Magalleria to read the Nasu feature.

STAY: Nasu Bettei KAI

A refined ten-room ryokan at the foot of the Nasu Mountains, Nasu Bettei KAI blends exceptional craftsmanship with contemporary comforts. Every room has a private hot spring bath fed by the Omaru Spring — the same water that serves the nearby Imperial Villa. Guests dine on local delicacies, including Tochigi Wagyu beef and ayu river fish, before unwinding amid serene forest surroundings.🔗 bettei-kai.jp

SOAK: Kita Onsen

Experience centuries of Japanese bathing culture at Kita Onsen, an Edo-period ryokan tucked into a dramatic mountain valley. Its hot springs were discovered over 1,200 years ago by tengu, mythical goblins of Japanese legend. Guests bathe surrounded by giant-nosed tengu masks that watch over the baths, creating a striking mix of mythology, history, and natural beauty — ideal for memorable photos and immersive cultural experiences.🔗 kitaonsen.com

EAT: Sokajuku – Satoyama Cuisine

Surrounded by forest, Sokajuku celebrates satoyama, the Japanese concept of humans living in harmony with nature. Seasonal menus feature wild vegetables, ayu sweetfish, yamame trout, mushrooms, and Tochigi Wagyu beef. Each dish reflects Nasu’s four seasons, with summer trout and wild yam, autumn mushrooms, and winter root vegetables. Dishes are served on locally made ceramics and bamboo ware, and the intimate dining room overlooks nothing but forest. Lunchtime is walk-ins only, while dinner requires a reservation.🔗 soukajuk.com

EXPLORE: Artistry in Harmony with Nature

Nasu is often associated with outdoor adventure, but it also offers rich cultural, culinary and craft-focused experiences. This three-day journey by Bicycle Tours Japan — with no cycling involved — weaves together highlights of Nasu, Mashiko and Nikko. Travellers enjoy a hands-on pottery session in Mashiko, a leading Mingei folk-craft town; Zen meditation at Daiouji Temple; and kumihimo braiding and washi paper–making workshops. The trip also includes time in Nikko for temple culture and a traditional yuba lunch, the delicate tofu skin central to Buddhist cuisine. Guests stay at the serene Nasu Bettei Kai for a nature-led retreat.

Contact Bicycle Tours JP to book custom itineraries for your clients: bicycle-tours.jp

SEASONAL HIGHLIGHT: Capybara Onsen

This winter, visit Nasu Animal Kingdom for one of Japan’s most unusual onsen experiences: capybara baths. From November to March, the park’s resident capybaras soak in warm springs, with a special yuzu bath for the winter solstice (20–22 Dec), including apples and pumpkins – their favourite foods!

🔗 nasu-oukoku.com