Hot springs in Nikko

A riverside hot spring resort along the Kinugawa River in Tochigi Prefecture, about two hours from Tokyo by express train. The gorge scenery is dramatic in autumn when the maples turn. The resort is also the nearest onsen town to Nikko and makes a natural overnight stop for visitors to the Toshogu shrine complex.

A mountain onsen beside Lake Yunoko within Nikko National Park. The milky, sulfurous waters have drawn visitors for centuries. After long hikes through the park's sacred forests and waterfalls, soaking here feels like exactly the right reward.