Kita Onsen Hot Spring

On January 3rd, still a part of the new year holidays in Japan, Brompton and I went to Kita Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture for a day trip through blizzard.

Kita Onsen means a north hot spring, located at the end of one of the valleys in Nasu Shiobara area. Kita Onsen is one of the locations where a famous movie Termae Romae was filmed. It is very well-known for this Tengu-no-yu bath with excellent hot spring water spouting from the cliff just beside this bath hut.

I wanted to start my hot spring adventure this year with one of the most secluded hot springs covered with snow. Because Kita Onsen is relatively close to Tokyo but snow-covered and secluded region in the Kanto area, I think that it's a good choice.

[data]
Route Nasu-yumoto bus stop (Nasu Onsen Shrine）→Kita Onsen
Distance 6.9km
Maximum difference of elevation 354m
Average inclination total 3.1% ascend 7.6% descent 6.5%
Gained altitude ascent 363m descent 111m

Use Toya Bus from Kuroiso Station to Nasu-yumoto bus stop.

Though it was fine during a train trip to Kuroiso Station, there was thin clouds over the moutain Nasu.

When I arrived at Nasu-yumoto, it was snowland! Not a good news for Brompton.

But I enjoyed snow cycling.

Brompton and I arrived at the gate of the route to Kita Onsen. There is a bus stop here but scheduled bus traffic is available only one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Kita Onsen Lodge is just 1.5km away from here. Snow storms welcomed Bromton and me.

Finally arrived!

This is Tengu-no-yu. According to a legendary history of the hot spring, it is said that Tengu, a long‐nosed goblin, threw a big rock to the mountain and a hot spring began to gush out from a crack about thousand years ago.

It was blizzard outside of the window.

Relaxing!

Let's drink a bottle of soda water as usual.

Suddenly kids stormed into this special bath. A secret hot spring matched little ruscals very well.

It still snowed when I departed the lodge to go home.