Ashi-yu at Kinugawa-Onsen Station

For free, tourists can soak in hot foot bath

Victoria Vlisides Aug 11, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Take advantage of the free foot bath outside of Kinugawa-Onsen Station in Tochigi.</p>

<p>The foot bath, or ash-yu in Japanese, can seat about 15 people or more.</p>

<p>The water is very clear and refreshing.</p>

<p>Children and adults alike can enjoy the ashi-yu.</p>

<p>Take a break in a relaxing setting.</p>

<p>Kinugawa-Onsen Station is located 5 minutes on foot from the Kinugawa River. After the foot bath, take a walk over to view the river.</p>

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.

From Nikko, use the Tobu Kinugawa Line to travel to Kinugawa-Onsen Station (鬼怒川温泉駅).

Victoria Vlisides @victoria.vlisides

Trained journalist who's not yet jaded. Can't get enough of meeting new people, the view, cheap travel, cherry-blossom-flavored food, dinner&drinks. Painfully addicted to Japan's gochya-gochya machines. If you're the type of person to try something new vs. something you know you like, we'll get a...