“Oku-Nikko” is said to be the back parlor of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture. Oku-Nikko is not a flashy area, but it is a tourist spot full of famous lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, and wetlands. Unlike Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which was built by great figures, you can see a spectacular view created by nature. There are also fishing spots, ski resorts, hiking trails, and outdoor facilities. This time, we will introduce in detail a trip to the unexplored areas of Oku-Nikko’s Lake Yuno and Yumoto Onsen.
①【Lake Yunoko】A lake where you can enjoy the reflections of autumn leaves‼︎
Lake Yunoko is a lake located in Okunikko, Tochigi Prefecture. The area is 0.32km2, which is about the size of seven Tokyo Domes, and it is surrounded by mountains, with a circumference of about 3km. A hiking course has been built around Lake Yunoko, and you can go around the lake in one hour on foot. In addition, autumn leaves grow naturally around Lake Yunoko, so you can see beautiful autumn leaves in autumn.
❶What is Oku-Nikko?
Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture has two areas called “Nikko” and “Okunikko.” Nikko is a tourist destination centered around Nikko Toshogu Shrine, located east of Irohazaka in Nikko City. Oku-Nikko is a tourist destination centered on the highlands above 1,200m above sea level, northwest of Irohazaka in Nikko City. Nikko City is divided into Nikko and Oku-Nikko with Irohazaka as its border.
❷What is Okunikko Onsen?
Oku-Nikko Onsen is a general term for hot springs in the Oku-Nikko area. The Okunikko Onsen area includes Chuzenji Onsen, located on the shores of Lake Chuzenji, and Yumoto Onsen, located in the northern part of Lake Yunoko.
➁【Yutaki Falls】A spectacular waterfall of overwhelming scale‼︎
Yutaki is a waterfall located in Oku-Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. The location is in the middle of Yukawa, which flows from the southern end of Lake Yunoko. With a height of 70m and a maximum width of 25m, it is a waterfall of overwhelming scale. A distinctive feature of this waterfall is that the flow of the waterfall hits rocks in the middle, causing the flow to split and look like people’s hands are clasping their hands together.
➂【Senjogahara】A wetland area where you can enjoy hiking‼︎
Senjogahara is a wetland area on a plateau in Oku-Nikko. The area is 400ha, which is about 85 times the size of Tokyo Dome. The altitude is approximately 1,390 to 1,400 meters, and the wetland area is flat. The name Senjogahara comes from the myth of Senjogahara, where the god of Mt. Nantai and the god of Mt. Akagi fought. A “nature exploration trail” has been established around Senjogahara. Therefore, you can go trekking and hiking. If you walk, you can complete one circuit in about 2 hours.
④【Ryuzu Falls】A waterfall with a total length of 210 meters that can be seen from both above and below‼︎
Ryuzu Falls is a waterfall located in the northern part of Lake Chuzenji in Oku-Nikko. By the way, ″Ryuzu Falls”, ″Kegon no Taki”, and ″Yutaki” are said to be the three famous waterfalls in Oku-Nikko. The total length of the waterfall is 210m, and the width of the waterfall is 10m. The name Ryuzu Falls comes from the fact that when viewed from the front, the waterfall looks like a dragon’s head.
Ryuzu Falls is a waterfall where there is a large rock in front of the basin, which divides the flow into two. The large rock looks like a dragon’s face, and the bisected waterfall looks like a dragon’s whiskers. The best spot to view Ryuzu Falls is from the observation deck of Ryuzu no Chaya located in front of the falls.
⑤【Lake Chuzenji】You can see Mt. Nantai while riding a boat‼︎
Lake Chuzenji is a lake located in Oku-Nikko to the south of Lake Yunoko. The area is 11.9km2, which is about the size of 254 Tokyo Domes, and the circumference is 25km, so it takes about 9 hours to go around it on foot. The origin of the name Lake Chuzenji comes from “the lake that was discovered by the monk who built Chuzenji.” The distance from Lake Chuzenji to Mt. Nantai is approximately 3.3 km. Mt. Nantai is located southeast of Lake Chuzenji.
⑥【Akechidaira Ropeway】Famous as a resting spot for touring‼︎
Akechidaira Ropeway is a ropeway located at Akechidaira in Oku-Nikko. Akechihei is read as “Akechidaira”. Akechidaira is located in the eastern part of Lake Chuzenji, and the route is almost at the top of the second Irohazaka slope. It is a scenic spot representing Oku-Nikko where you can overlook the majestic scenery. There is a large parking lot at the Akechidaira Ropeway station, which can be used as a resting spot during touring. A 3-minute ride on the ropeway will take you to the Akechidaira Observation Deck, located at an altitude of 1,473m, where you can enjoy a spectacular view from even higher ground.
⑦Access information to Lake Yuno
Here you will find detailed information about access to Lake Yunoko. The address of Lake Yuno is “Yumoto, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture.”
❶Route from Irohazaka to Yunoko by car
| Irohazaka ⇒ Lake Chuzenji ⇒ Senjogahara ⇒ Ryuzu Falls ⇒ Lake Yunoko |
Summary
This time, we introduced a trip to the unexplored areas of Oku-Nikko’s Yuno Lake and Yumoto Onsen. Oku-Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture has many famous spots and scenic spots, making it ideal for sightseeing. The recommended seasons are summer and autumn. In the summer, you can stay cool as a summer resort, and in the fall, you can see the leaves turning bright red. There are many high-quality hot springs here that will soothe your mind and body, guaranteeing you a refreshing trip. When you visit Tochigi Prefecture, why not stop by Oku-Nikko?
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