Tochigi Nikko City
An inn with a spectacular separate open-air bath and soothing buffet dining, embraced by the Kinugawa Gorge
"Oedo Onsen Monogatari Hotel Kinugawa Gyoen" is a hot spring hotel in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Built to jut out over the Kinugawa Gorge, it has a separate open-air bath beyond a dedicated corridor, as if detached from the main building. Below, the river flows, and in front, mountain ranges spread out before you. Inside the hotel are two large public baths that alternate between men and women, where you can enjoy the soft waters of an alkaline simple spring as often as you like. The large baths are equipped with a sauna, and there is also a spacious private bath available exclusively for guests staying overnight. With a gourmet buffet featuring Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, yukata in your favorite pattern, table tennis, and a manga corner, this inn keeps you entertained even after your bath.

A spacious observation large public bath where you can admire the seasonal views of the Kinugawa River and the surrounding mountains through windows facing the river. The soft waters of the alkaline simple spring envelop your skin, helping you relax both body and mind.

A large public bath known for its spacious tubs, where you can stretch out your arms and legs and relax at leisure. You can savor the soft, skin-friendly alkaline natural hot spring water to your heart's content, again and again.

A quiet separate open-air bath reached through a dedicated corridor, giving the feeling of being detached from the main building. While listening to the murmur of the Kinugawa River flowing below and the chirping of birds, you can feel as though you are sinking into nature. On clear days, you can even gaze up at the starry sky.

A sauna attached to the large public bath. After warming your body thoroughly in the hot spring, you can work up a sweat here. In a quiet space, you can face the heat at your own pace, making it an ideal place to reset after the fatigue of daily life.
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Large public baths and open-air baths: 15:00–24:00 / 5:00–10:00 Sauna: 15:00–24:00 / 7:00–10:00
Guests with tattoos, body art, fake tattoo stickers, or painted designs are not permitted to use the large public baths. However, tattoos that can be completely covered with two 10 cm x 14 cm cover stickers may use the large public baths if the designated cover stickers are worn. Cover stickers are sold at the front desk for 220 yen each, tax included.
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Exceptional natural hot spring water straight from the source, with private open-air baths in every room
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Most of what we surveyed never made it onto this site. This is a further cut from what did — places the editor bathed in himself, and places chosen through our own reporting.