Kinugawa Onsen, Edo Wonderland and Ashikaga Flower Park show a fun, relaxed side of Tochigi Prefecture that many visitors to Nikko miss. Kinugawa is a large hot spring resort in a river gorge just north of Nikko, Edo Wonderland is a theme park that recreates an Edo-period town complete with ninja and samurai, and Ashikaga Flower Park is home to some of the most famous wisteria in the world. They are ideal for families, couples and anyone who wants a break from temple-hopping. This guide covers tickets, seasons, how to combine them with Nikko and where to stay for an onsen night.
1. Kinugawa Onsen
Kinugawa Onsen is one of the best-known hot spring resorts near Tokyo, with large hotels and ryokan perched along the steep, rocky gorge of the Kinugawa River. Most guests come for a relaxing night with dinner, breakfast and long soaks in indoor and open-air baths, and many hotels have rooms looking straight down into the gorge. From mid-April to late November, the Kinugawa Line Kudari river boat runs a roughly 40 minute ride downstream through the gorge, with boatmen steering past rocks and small rapids; the 3,500 yen fare includes a shuttle bus back, and the pier is about 5 minutes on foot from Kinugawa-Onsen Station. The town is easy to reach directly from Tokyo: Tobu Railway’s SPACIA X limited express runs from Asakusa to Kinugawa-Onsen in about 2 hours. Because Kinugawa is so close to Nikko, many travelers spend one day at the shrines and then move here for an onsen night.
2. Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura is a theme park that recreates a town from the Edo period (1603 to 1868), with wooden streets, merchant houses, a samurai residence and a lord’s magistrate office. Staff dressed as townspeople, samurai and geisha stay in character as you walk around, and there are ninja shows, theater performances and old-style games throughout the day. One of the most popular things to do is renting a costume and exploring the town dressed as a ninja, princess or samurai, which makes for great photos. Admission is 5,800 yen for adults and 3,000 yen for children, or 5,000 yen for adults after 14:00 (13:00 in winter). The park is open 9:00 to 17:00 from March 20 to November 30 and 9:30 to 16:00 from December 1 to March 19, with regular closing days shown on its online calendar, so check before you go. It is a short bus or taxi ride from Kinugawa-Onsen Station.
3. Ashikaga Flower Park
Ashikaga Flower Park, in the southwest of Tochigi, is famous for its giant wisteria trees, whose trailing purple, white and yellow blossoms form tunnels and canopies over the walkways. The Great Wisteria Festival usually runs from mid-April to mid-May, and in 2026 it ran from April 11 to May 20, with evening illuminations that light up the flowers after dark. Admission changes with the bloom, and in 2026 the day ticket for adults ranged from 1,200 to 2,300 yen. The park is also known for one of Japan’s largest winter illuminations, held in recent years from late October into February; check the park’s website for the current season’s dates and prices. Ashikaga is not near Nikko, so plan it as a separate day trip from Tokyo or a stop on the way. The park is about a 3 minute walk from Ashikaga Flower Park Station on the JR Ryomo Line, which you can reach from Oyama on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Where to Stay Near Kinugawa Onsen
Where to stay: Kinugawa OnsenHotel links in this section go to Orbitz. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Kinugawa Onsen is the best place in Tochigi for a classic hot spring stay with dinner and breakfast included. Most hotels line the river gorge within walking distance of Kinugawa-Onsen Station, and the town is a convenient base for Edo Wonderland and a day in Nikko.
Luxury
Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel is a refined hotel from the family behind the historic Nikko Kanaya Hotel, set above the Kinugawa River with stylish rooms and hot spring baths.
Refined small hotel above the river.
Mid-Range
Asaya Hotel is a large, lively onsen hotel in the center of Kinugawa Onsen with a variety of baths, a good choice for families and first-time ryokan guests.
Large onsen hotel with a variety of baths.
Budget-Friendly
Kinugawa Plaza Hotel is a good-value option for enjoying Kinugawa’s hot springs without paying luxury prices.
Good-value hot spring hotel by the river.
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Hotels in Kinugawa Onsen on Orbitz
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Quick Tips for Visiting
- Many Kinugawa hotels serve dinner at a set time, so check in by mid-afternoon.
- Rent a costume at Edo Wonderland early in the day to get the most out of it.
- Check Edo Wonderland’s calendar for closing days before you go.
- Visit Ashikaga Flower Park on a weekday during wisteria season, and buy tickets on the day, since prices change with the bloom.
- The Kinugawa river boat does not run from late November to mid-April.
Getting there by train: From Asakusa in Tokyo, the Tobu SPACIA X limited express reaches Kinugawa-Onsen in about 2 hours (3,530 yen). JR Limited Express Nikko trains also run from Shinjuku onto Tobu tracks, but the JR Pass covers only the JR section. For Ashikaga Flower Park, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Oyama and change to the JR Ryomo Line, all covered by the JR Pass. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it. Arriving by plane? See our guide to getting from Narita or Haneda to Tokyo.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Edo Wonderland?
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura costs 5,800 yen for adults and 3,000 yen for children. After 14:00 (13:00 in winter), adult tickets are 5,000 yen.
How do you get to Kinugawa Onsen from Tokyo?
Take the Tobu SPACIA X limited express from Asakusa to Kinugawa-Onsen Station, about 2 hours for 3,530 yen. JR Limited Express Nikko trains also run from Shinjuku.
When is the best time to visit Ashikaga Flower Park?
Come during the Great Wisteria Festival, usually mid-April to mid-May; in 2026 it ran April 11 to May 20. The park also holds a large winter illumination from late autumn.
Can you visit Kinugawa Onsen and Nikko on the same trip?
Yes. Kinugawa Onsen is on the Tobu line just north of Nikko, so many travelers see Nikko’s shrines one day and spend the night at a Kinugawa hot spring hotel.
