Golf on a course in beautiful nature and relax with hot springs and artworks (4-day-3-night trip)

With a length of 320 metres, this is the largest pier-less suspension bridge in Japan. Magnificent views of the Shiobara valley can be seen from the bridge. In autumn, the bridge commands enchanting views of the foliage reflected on the lake. Officially listed as a “Sacred Place for Lovers”, this is a romantic location perfect for marriage proposals.

Gioia Mia is an Italian restaurant based in Nasu that prepares all dishes with hand-picked ingredients. The menu features dishes including appetizers, pasta soup, crispy crust (Roman style) pizza baked in a wood-fired oven, bread, meat dishes, fish dishes, and desserts. All dishes are completely handmade so that guests can enjoy the flavor of the ingredients. Come and enjoy the taste of Gioia Mia in items like seasonal dishes and those using locally produced milk and cheese.

N’s YARD is a private modern art space displaying the works of modern artists and was created with the intention of making a space available for visitors to casually see the works of the artist and sculptor, Yoshitomo Nara. The museum has a café and a museum shop, too. Five exhibition rooms showcase not only Nara’s works including paintings, drawings, and 3D art pieces, but also Nara’s collections of other artists’ works, records, and dolls. Exhibitions are planned and designed by Nara. Besides the exhibition rooms, there is also a café, which offers light meals, drinks, and desserts, made with carefully selected ingredients, and a museum shop that sells items produced exclusively for this museum.

Photo: Mie Morimoto
※The images may differ from the current facility appearance.

Roadside Station Meiji no Mori/Kuroiso was opened as a roadside station when improvements were made to the Aoki Nasu Bettei second home on a 7.5-hectare lot.

This roadside station is located on the side of the Kuroiso-Tajima Route (Prefectural Route 369)， which runs through Nasushiobara City， Tochigi Prefecture. It features farmer’s market that offers fresh produce， local eggs， and dairy products，restaurant， a bakery， and more.

It is located adjacent to the Former Aoki Family Nasu Villa. This villa that belonged to Aoki Shuzo is a nationally-designated Important Cultural Property.”

Mt. Chausu，located at the north end of Tochigi prefecture，is an active volcano and the main peak of the Nasu mountains. It stands 1,915 metres above sea level. Take the ropeway to the 9th station of Mt.Chausu for a spectacular view of fields of flowers and autumn leaves.

If you are a big fan of trekking，try the routes from the top of the ropeway to the crater of Mt. Chausu. A wide range of walking trails are available suitable for beginners and families. The panoramic view of the Kanto Plain below from the top of Mt. Chausu is breathtaking.

Sessho-seki is a huge lava rock on the slope of Mount Nasu near Nasu Yumoto Onsen.
According to literature from the Muromachi period (室町時代) (1336-1573), a fox with nine tails disguised itself as a beautiful woman and tried to kill the Emperor Toba. After fleeing to Nasu, the demon vixen was vanquished and turned into a stone. The stone was named “Sessho-seki ” (Killing Stone) because many creatures died from the poisonous air it emitted.This place has been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

History of Nasu Yuzen Shrine

It is said that a hunter named Kano found onsen here when he was trying to hunt a white deer. He built this shrine for thanksgiving. According to an article written in Nara period (A.D 710~794), we can confirm that the shrine already existed during that time.

During the Genpei War in 12th century, an archer called Nasu Yoichi came here to pray for victory over Taira family’s army. He shot down a fan by one arrow that enemy put on the front of their boat when he stood on the ground. It made him became legend and the shrine became very famous for blessing Yoichi. Yoichi donated his bow and arrow to the shrine, which became shrine’s tressure later.

Shrine’s famous festival

The most important event of the shrine is the “Dai Festival”, which is held on October 8 and 9 every year. They dedicate onsen to the God, and perform a traditional dance called “Urayasu Dance”.

Then on October 9, people perform another traditional dance called “Ozawa’s Lion Dance,” which is designated as the “Intangible Cultural Property of Nasu Machi” to pray for prosperity.

There is also a famous festival be held on the last weekend of May, the “Nasu Seshosseki Gojinka Festival”. The highlight of the festival is a parade from Yuzen Shrine to Sesshoseki by participants attired in white clothing with torches.

GOOD NEWS in the town of Nasu is a commercial building complex that connects farming, social services, and tourism to help create a sustainable town. The land is divided into GOOD NEWS NEIGHBORS and GOOD NEWS DAIRY. GOOD NEWS NEIGHBORS is a shopping area where shops working on environmental issues are gathered. There are nine shops in total including an outdoor gear shop for enjoying nature and a roastery café that composts waste coffee grains. GOOD NEWS DAIRY, as a communicator of the attractiveness of Nasu where dairy farming is active, sells soft ice cream from a ranch where the forest is effectively used in dairy farming, and offers products from a cheese factory working on upcycling of waste whey.

Tochigi is Japan’s largest producer of strawberries. The prefecture has the perfect environment for fresh and sweet strawberries, blessed with abundant sunshine, clear spring water, fertile land and an inland climate with a large difference between high and low temperatures. Strawberry picking is a popular leisure in strawberry farms across the prefecture. Starting with “Tochiotome”, the nation’s superstar brand of strawberry, come and sample some of the many varieties available, some of which are only grown in the prefecture. “Skyberry”, the brand-new premium variety created as a successor of “Tochiotome”, is increasingly popular. The perfect flavours and amazingly large-fruit are utterly delicious!