Nick's Travels

Most foreigners who travel to this part of Japan go to Nikko. Indeed, almost every gaijin who comes to Japan knows of this famous spot. But, sitting right next door is another fabulous resort area, and very few foreigners come here, or even know of this place!

To get to Kinugawa Onsen, you only have two choices; drive or take the Tobu line and then a bus.

• Note on prices: All prices are approximate (hey, I never take the whole ride, I live in between - sometimes I go one way and sometimes the other!), and subject to change.

• The Tobu line is cheaper and quicker than the JR line and the only train to the Kinugawa area. First go to Asakusa, which is on the Asakusa and Ginza subway lines. The Tobu ticket office is on the ground (1st) floor. If you want to take the Spacia (the Tobu equivalent of the Shinkansen) you must buy a ticket at the window.

  Destination	Regular Tobu adult fare	Regular Tobu child fare	Tobu Spacia adult fare	Tobu Spacia child fare
  Shin Takatoku	1,300	650	2,690	1,350
  Kinugawa Onsen	1,480	740	2,879	1,440
  Kunugawa Koen	1,480	740	2,879	1,440

  Note: The Spacia offers reclining seats with a selection of music from the headrest, and if that isn't enough, private compartments (5,800 yen per room for up to four people). You feel like you are on an airplane! If you want the regular trains, you can buy a ticket at the machines around to your left. The platforms are upstairs. If you want to buy a snack, there is a department store supermarket in the basement, where you can buy many kinds of things to eat and drink on the long train ride (The Spacia has vending macines, and a snack bar that is almost always closed).

• A few more notes on the Tobu line trains. The Spacia trains go to the desired destination, no problem. But the regular trains sometimes SPLIT in Imaichi. Read the signs over the door or ask a conductor. Also, if you are on the line to Kinugawa, and don't 'look Japanese', the conductor MAY ask if you are going to Nikko. Guess that goes to show you, most non-Asian looking foreigners do not go to Kinugawa Onsen, although there is a lot to see and do there, too.

  Trains run from 5:01 AM (changing train in Shimo Imaichi at 7:22, arrive at Kinugawa Onsen at 7:46) throughout the day, more frequently to Nikko than direct routes to Kinugawa. Also,

  the last direct regular express train (#53/153) to Nikko leaves Asakusa at 16:20,	.	arrives in Nikko at 18:20,	and arrives in Kinugawa Onsen at 18:44 (remember the splitting train!)
  The last regular local train (265) to Nikko is 19:21,	but you must change to a slower local train in Shin Tochigi at 21:09 and	arrive in Nikko at 22:14.	.
  The last Spacia to Nikko is 20:10, the Kegon 39, and	.	arrives in Nikko at 21:57;	if you change to a slower local train in Imaichi, you arrive in Kinugawa Onsen at 22:28

• Edomura (Edo Village)
• Westernmura (Western Village - a little America, with Mt. Rushmore, attractions, events, golfing, shops, shows, food, etc.)
• Tobu World Square (where you can truly go around the world in ninety minutes!)
• Of course, Onsens, hiking, etc.

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Edomura is a theme park like attraction

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Western Mura is an American theme park. It has a variety of attractions, restaurants, and shops. It even has a small golf course! Take the Tobu train to Shintakatoku. Exit the train station, walk down to the traffic light and turn right. Walk up the small incline, cross the river and you will see a BIG red ball sign for a pachinko parlor on your left. Keep going to the big intersection, cross the street and it is on your left.

Tobu World Square

A couple onsens I have recently discovered and like:

Ichiryukaku I discoved by serendipity (i.e. a happy or lucky accident!) A friend and I were off to Meotobuchi, but they were closed (see soty under Meotobuchi). While going to a public bath they recommended, we ran across this nice place. The only disappointment was that it was not konyoku (mixed bathing). Rooms in the hotel, for those with the money, are 15,000 and 20,000 per person per night (about US$150 - $200 per person). The onsen for non hotel guests is 1,000 per person (about US $10).

Some of my other related pages

The Hippori restaurant, small, plain but very gaijin-friendly (i.e. friendly to foreigners)

On onsens and how to take a bath in Japan

Things to see and do in Nikko

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Some pictures

Pictures of Nikko

Some links

Here is a link on Onsens. It lists several in different parts of Japan.

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Copyright © 1996, 2002 by Nick Miller.

See notes for information on navigating, links, copyright (my own as well as any possible inadvertent infringement on my part), photo usage, etc.