Don’t make a stop at Kinugawa-Onsen Station in Tochigi without first taking a break at the refreshing ashi-yu (足湯), or foot bath.
Just outside the station is a free hot bath for your feet, where weary travelers can get a quick reprieve under this open-air pavilion. It is one of four foot baths in the Kinugawa area. Even in hot weather, it’s a way to refresh from a long day of sightseeing.
Kinugawa is a hot spring resort town that is a tourist attraction about 30 minutes by train from Nikko Station. An ashi-yu is just one type of Japanese onsen (温泉), or hot spring bath. The ashi-yu is typically found in popular onsen areas, often times free of charge. Slip off your shoes and socks, sit down and soak in the foot bath from open hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The bath seats at least 15 people.
Getting there
From Nikko, use the Tobu Kinugawa Line to travel to Kinugawa-Onsen Station (鬼怒川温泉駅).
