Tokyo is not only a cosmopolitan city with many skyscrapers, but there is also an healing resort near the city with a long history and beautiful scenery: Nasu.
Nasu offers majestic nature, ancient hot springs, and traditional food prepared with a variety of local ingredients, and has a long history that makes it the perfect place to get a glimpse of Japanese history and culture.
1. Nasu Ski Resort
Nasu Ski Resort (Nasu Town), 120 minutes drive from Tokyo is an easy and convenient destination to reach.
Hunter Mountain Shiobara is a ski area located on the western slopes of Mt. Takahara: from the top of the slopes, you get a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains of northern Tochigi.
There are slopes for all experience levels and play areas for children. The resort is open all year, but the winter sports season is from December to April.
The slopes are surrounded by natural forests such as beech trees, providing a great venue for advanced snowboarders who love to “drill the woods”. The sunrise trail, sunset trail, cedar trail, Northwood trail, and the horseback street add even more color to the snow park.
2. Where to Sleep in Nasu
Nasu is a prime hot spring, hiking and ski getaway with artisanal cheese and microbrews. There is a vast “hot spring area” on the south slope of Mount Nasu, with 7 hot springs with an history of 1,380 years, where you can relax after a day skiing.
A good option to spend a night or few days of vacation is the Hotel Shiki no Yakata Nasu: set in Nasu, 1.8 km from Nasu Rindoh-ko Lake View, Hotel Shiki no Yakata Nasu offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, free bikes and a bar. Featuring a shared lounge, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The hotel features a hot spring bath and a 24-hour front desk.
3. Food and Beers
Gioia mia – The atmosphere is like an Italian countryside restaurant with 120 seats, and the ingredients are selected from local natural ingredients and carefully prepared to present Italian cuisine that retains the original taste of the ingredients. The small courtyard of the restaurant allows people to enjoy the different scenery of Nasu in all seasons, and the attached bakery is also very popular.
The Nasu area produces also a large amounts of dairy, second only to Hokkaido. Cheese Garden Gohokan is a famous shop and café known for its dairy products. A must is the famous soft-serve ice cream and the special cheesecake.
Nasu Kogen Beer has put Nasu on the map with its craft brews. The brewery was founded by a furniture-making family in 1996 that learned their brewing techniques in Germany. Every year at the end of September, a beer festival is held at the brewery.
4. Getting There
From the airport
Sendai Airport Station → Train (2 hours 30 minutes) → Nasu Shiobara Station → Free bus (via outlet / 1 hour 5 minutes / reservation only).
Haneda Airport Station→Train (1 hour 45 minutes) → Nasu Shiobara Station → Free bus (via outlet/1 hour 5 minutes/reservation only).
Narita Airport Station → Train (3 hours) → Nasu Shiobara Station → Free bus (via outlet/1 hour and 5 minutes/reservation only).
By Train from Tokyo
Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) Nasu-Shiobara Station (1 hour and 15 minutes) → Free bus (via outlet / 1 hour and 5 minutes).
To book train tickets in Japan check the JRPass website to order your train pass.
A short one-hour drive to experience a different Japanese culture around Tokyo. Suitable for family vacation, Nasu Ski Resort offers a new option for family travel to Japan with high quality snow that satisfies every ski lover as well.
For all foreigners, check the travel visa requirementfor Japan at Visa Express.
