⛩ Tochigi · 2 days
Nikko, Kinugawa & the Nasu Highlands Onsen Drive
A highland onsen drive from the shrines of Nikko through Kinugawa and Shiobara to the Nasu plateau — 5 michi-no-eki, hot springs and autumn colour a couple of hours from Tokyo.
Nikko is one of Japan’s great day-trips from Tokyo, but its shrines are only the start. Head north and the road climbs into a belt of hot-spring valleys — Kinugawa, Yunishikawa, Shiobara — before opening onto the Nasu highlands with their royal villa, ranch country and active volcano.
By car you can string these together into a two-day onsen loop that most Tokyo visitors never attempt, ending on the Nasu plateau where the michi-no-eki double as farm markets for highland dairy and vegetables.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Nikkou 道の駅 日光 · Tochigi
Michi-no-Eki Nikkou (道の駅 日光) is a government-designated roadside station in 日光市, Tochigi, Japan, registered in 2015 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 36 cars and 7 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–22:00（施設により異なる）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Yuusui No Sato Shioya, Utsunomiya Romanchikku Mura and Yunishi Kawa.
Nearby: 🏛SL展示館 (0.5 km) · 📸砲弾打込杉 (2.2 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Yunishi Kawa 道の駅 湯西川 · Tochigi
Michi-no-Eki Yunishi Kawa (道の駅 湯西川) is a government-designated roadside station in 日光市, Tochigi, Japan, registered in 2006 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and EV charging. There is free parking for about 49 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（施設により異なる）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Banya, Tajima and Yu No Kaguwashi Obara.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Takase (3.4 km) · 📸Start of Ryuokyo Gorge Hike (4.5 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Yu No Kaguwashi Obara 道の駅 湯の香しおばら · Tochigi
Michi-no-Eki Yu No Kaguwashi Obara (道の駅 湯の香しおばら) is a government-designated roadside station in 那須塩原市, Tochigi, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 182 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00 （12–2月 は9:00–16:00）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Nasuno Ga Hara Hakubutsukan, Meiji No Mori ・ Kuroiso and Nasu Kougen Yuuai No Mori.
Nearby: 🌄もみじ谷大吊り橋 (1.7 km) · 📸布滝 (4.4 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Nasu Kougen Yuuai No Mori 道の駅 那須高原友愛の森 · Tochigi
Michi-no-Eki Nasu Kougen Yuuai No Mori (道の駅 那須高原友愛の森) is a government-designated roadside station in 那須郡那須町, Tochigi, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 269 cars and 9 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:00–17:30（10月–3月は9:00–17:00）〔各施設季節により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Meiji No Mori ・ Kuroiso, Yu No Kaguwashi Obara and Nasuno Ga Hara Hakubutsukan.
Nearby: 🏛那須昆虫ワールド (0.4 km) · 🏛那須オルゴール美術館 (1.3 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Tousandou Iouno 道の駅 東山道伊王野 · Tochigi
Michi-no-Eki Tousandou Iouno (道の駅 東山道伊王野) is a government-designated roadside station in 那須郡那須町, Tochigi, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 132 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–17:00（施設により異なる）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kanto road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Nasu Yoichi No Sato, Nasu Kougen Yuuai No Mori and Meiji No Mori ・ Kuroiso.
Nearby: 🏛那須歴史探訪館 (3.9 km) · 📸くらしの館 (8.7 km)
Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Do Nikko Toshogu early, then drive north — the onsen valleys are the quiet half of the trip.
- Yunishikawa is famous for winter kamakura (snow huts) lit at night from late January.
- Shiobara’s valley road is a top-tier foliage drive in late October.
- On the Nasu plateau, check volcanic-gas status before going up toward Chausu-dake.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Nikko & Nasu highlands
How many days do you need for the Nikko & Nasu highlands route?
2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 90 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Nikko and ends at Nasu. Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
April–November; brilliant foliage late October.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →