Kinugawa Onsen, Thermal resort in Nikko, Japan
Kinugawa Onsen is a thermal area in the Nikko region, distributed along the river banks and slopes. More than forty inns offer access to hot springs that flow into stone and wooden pools, surrounded by forested mountains.
The hot springs were reserved for feudal lords and monks during the Edo era and remained closed until the mid-1800s. After opening to the public, the area developed into a retreat for city dwellers from Tokyo.
Visitors at the inns wear light cotton kimonos while moving between indoor and outdoor baths. The bathing ritual follows Japanese rules: wash first, then step into the pools.
Direct connections from Tokyo's Asakusa Station run several times a day and reach the local station in two and a half hours. Most inns organize shuttle buses from the station to their entrances, especially during arrival times.
The alkaline waters in this area reach temperatures from 40 to 80 degrees Celsius and change color depending on mineral content. Some outdoor pools sit directly above the river rocks and mix natural river water with the hot thermal flow.
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