Destinations

Nyuto Onsen

"If you long for a traditional onsen (hot-spring) experience in Japan, nothing can beat an overnight stay in one of Nyuto Onsen’s tiny resort villages – remote, picturesque and serene."

Harry Sargant - Tailored Department Manager

Northern Tohoku is one of Japan's most mountainous areas and nestled between the peaks are many of the country's finest traditional onsen (hot-spring) resorts and villages. Nyuto Onsen is a collection of half a dozen tiny onsen villages in the mountains of Akita Prefecture, close to the border with neighbouring Iwate. An overnight stay in one of these tucked away spots will make you wonder if you didn't just happen to step into a time machine on your way from Tokyo; ramshackle old wooden buildings surrounded by woodland, steaming pools of milky white water, locals quietly making their way from bath to bath or taking a stroll in their yukata (cotton kimono) and geta (wooden sandals). This is the ultimate onsen experience, and if you left the big cities alarmed at the pace of modern Japanese life, a visit to Nyuto Onsen will reassure you that traditional ways are very much alive and well in Japan.

Our favourite of the tiny resorts is Tsuru-no-yu, a collection of dark wooden buildings, hidden away at the end of a 2km dirt track with only a small sign on the main road indicating its presence. The resort is surrounded by wooded hills on all sides and has a wonderful old-world atmosphere. There are a range of both indoor and outdoor baths to enjoy, with the largest outdoor bath being used by both men and women together; the milky-white water making this less of an ordeal than it might sound! If you are not quite up for this extra experience then there are plenty of the usual sex-segregated baths to enjoy. The resort provides traditional Japanese-style rooms and hearty local cuisine.

Products featuring Nyuto Onsen...

Self Guided Adventure

Northern Highlights

When the famous Haiku poet Matsuo Basho set off on his pilgrimage to the North he was to discover rural Japan, a land of lush landscapes and rich in legend. As you journey through the pilgrimage towns of Tohoku and on to remote Sado Island you’ll experience some of the same Japan as the great poet.

14 Nights: £2380

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