Nasu

Mount Asahidake in Nasu volcano

Nasu (那須) is a sprawling rural town in northern Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Parts of it are within the boundaries of Nikko National Park.

Understand

Tourist Information Site

Nasu Tourism Association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

Nasushiobara (那須塩原) on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen line is the nearest station, about 1 hr 15 min from either Tokyo or Sendai. A free bus shuttles passengers to some hot spring resorts from here; alternatively, it's 10 minutes on the JR Tohoku Main Line to Kuroiso (黒磯) station.

Get around

Because of its hilly terrain and the large area it covers, Nasu is probably best seen by car.

See

Entrance to the Murder Stone

• 1 Murder Stone (殺生石 Sesshoseki). A large boulder that has been belching out noxious fumes for centuries, killing small critters who venture nearby. (Humans seem to manage.) According to legend, when Lady Tamamo, the lover of Emperor Konoe (c. 1150), was executed for being a fox in disguise, her soul turned into the stone. Haiku poet Matsuo Basho also paid his respects here on his Narrow Road to the Deep North. In March 2022, the stone split in two, either because of natural weathering (cracks had been spotted before) or because the murderous spirit of Lady Tamamo has finally escaped her prison. Free.  

Do

Nasu is highly volcanic and there are no less than seven hot springs in the Yumoto (湯本) area alone. The Nasu Onsen Ryokan Association has a handy booking engine, but alas, only in Japanese.

Mount Nasu is a good spot for hiking and, in winter, skiing and snowboarding is available at Mount Jeans ski resort on the slopes of the mountain.

The Nasu Kogen (Nasu Highland) region is home to numerous "attractions", some more dubious than others, including a Monkey Park, Teddy Bear Museum, Car Museum and Animal Kingdom, where dogs can be rented by the hour (complete with authentic New Zealanders hosting a sheep shearing show).

• Lake Rindo Family Farm (りんどう湖ファミリー牧場). Tourist farm, amusement park and zoo combined in Nasu, including dozens of alpacas imported from Chile. 

Eat

• Asian Old Bazaar (アジアンオールドバザール). Southeast Asia themed shopping area with three shops and two restaurants: Ubud for Balinese cuisine and Mekong for Thai/Vietnamese cuisine. The Balinese style restaurant has a terrace with excellent views of the surrounding area. Lunch sets from about ¥1200. (updated Mar 2024)

Drink

• Nasu Kogen Brewery, in the Nasu Kogen area has a variety of locally brewed beers. Though not inexpensive (around ¥3000 for a six-pack), the beers are excellent.

Go next

• Nasushiobara
• Otawara
• Nikko
• Shirakawa
• Tanagura
• Nishigo
• Sakura
• Sukagawa
• Koriyama

Routes through Nasu

Fukushima ← Shirakawa ←	N  S	→ Nasushiobara → Yaita → Utsunomiya
Fukushima ← Shirakawa ←	N  S	→ Nishinasuno Shiobara → Yaita → Utsunomiya