A Must-Read Guide to Nasushiobara Onsen for First-Timers

Tochigi Prefecture has 14 cities, and among them, Nasushiobara, a mountain town hidden in the forest, is a true gem.😎 This place has many highlights, especially its hot spring resources, which are incredibly abundant! Can you imagine what a secret hot spring village with a 1,200-year history is like?🧐 In terms of water quality, the best hot spring village in Tochigi Prefecture may not be Kinugawa, which only has simple springs, but the neighboring Nasu area, with Shiobara Onsen as a prime example. The variety of spring qualities here is amazing. In addition to simple springs, there are chloride springs, hydrogen carbonate springs, sulfate springs, sulfur springs, and acid springs—a total of six different types!👍 Shiobara Onsen is rich in metasilicic acid, making it a paradise for beauty and moisturizing hot springs. Almost all the hotels' hot springs have a metasilicic acid content of over 50mg. While the Japanese marketing might sound a bit mystical, who knows, maybe a soak really can enhance your beauty.😜 There's also Japan's largest footbath facility here, "Yuppo no Sato," which is 60m long. For just 250 yen, you can enjoy the scenery while soaking your feet from different angles. It's super relaxing!🤩 Even more amazing, Shiobara Onsen is said to have some hotels that offer drinkable hot spring water. I wouldn't dare to try it myself, but curious travelers can give it a go.😏 This place was also a favorite of Emperor Taisho. There's a memorial museum for his villa nearby. Before his ascension to the throne, Emperor Taisho visited here many times and even built a private residence. It's steeped in history.🎈 However, since Shiobara Onsen is a secluded hot spring village in the countryside, it does have some minor drawbacks. Transportation isn't very convenient. It takes 3 and a half hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo, which is even longer than going to Kinugawa. Also, limited facilities are a common issue in rural hot spring villages. It's hard to find places to eat after dark, so I recommend choosing a package with dinner and breakfast included. Convenience stores are also scarce in the central hot spring area. Yamazaki closes at 5 pm, and the 24-hour FamilyMart is over a kilometer walk away, which is a bit inconvenient.😔 But overall, Shiobara Onsen still offers many pleasant surprises in terms of spring quality, scenery, and value.