Nasu, Tochigi: A Great Getaway

Posted on 01/28/2022 Last updated on 03/08/2022

During my stay in Japan, there came a point when I felt a bit exhausted by the day to day demands. So I reached out to some friends. One of them suggested we take a trip to a place called “Nasu” in Tochigi prefecture. I had a little laugh at the name; nasu means “eggplant” in the Japanese language.

But still, I jumped at the opportunity to see something outside of the town I was living in. We managed to get several other people on board with the idea, and booked a cottage in Nasu. I couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

Stocking Up

When arriving in the very mountainous region of Nasu, I was blown away by how spacious and free I felt. The first thing my little crew of friends did was stop at a local grocery to stock up on food for our stay.

One thing about Japan that often had me feeling homesick was the scarcity of cheeses in my local area. I was pleased to find out the production of cheese in Nasu is some the highest in Japan.

Of course, my friends saw me scurry away to an aisle where I could fill my grocery basket with all the cheese I had been missing previously. One in my group told me Nasu even boasts a chain store called “Cheese Garden” dedicated to all cheesy products.

Settling In

After arriving in our village of cottages, I was blown away by how luxurious our very affordable cottage was. “Hana Duet Resort” was an extremely accommodating service and interesting too, as each cottage was dedicated to a different country’s style. The cottage we booked was the Italian style one, and it was not at all disappointing.

Outside the cottage was a beautiful fountain situated near a covered patio that would serve as our grilling area. The inside boasted a beautiful kitchen, six private bedrooms, a karaoke room, and a living room. Within the living room was a piano and one of our crew members wasted no time in showing off his skills (What a performance!).

Killing Time

After a night of music, catching up, and just relaxing, we started the following morning with coffee and plans to explore. One of our group members who knew the area suggested we visit “Sesshoseki” or “Killing stone” located in a volcanic area of the mountains rich in sulfur.

Well, I certainly didn’t know what to expect from a place dedicated to a “Killing stone” but I was pleasantly surprised upon arrival. We reached the mountainous area where I could see for miles. The old Buddhist style structures made me feel like I was in ancient Japan. The sulfuric hot springs can make one feel a bit nauseous, but I quickly got used to it. The “Killing stone” itself is a sacred site in Buddhist mythology with a whole story behind it.

A Perfect Ending Meal

Coming to the end of the weekend, our group decided to have dinner at a local restaurant dedicated to Udon (a very thick noodle usually served in a salty broth). We sat down in a tatami room around a table seated on the floor. Forgive me for forgetting the name of the restaurant, but I won’t forget the experience. It felt once again like I was in ancient Japan, dining amongst friends.

As we ate, we talked about our trip and the fun we had. We showed each other the photos we collected. Our little group laughed about all the good times. Riding out of Nasu, I thought, “I hope everyone coming to Japan gets to experience this too.”

Your own Nasu adventure awaits, as does the rest of Japan! Find out more about being an Assistant Language Teacher today!

Photo Credits:

Top Image: ___ii8___ on Pixabay

Additional photos provided by Jacob B.