After a week-end spend in Okukinu (奥鬼怒) valley, you will find in this article all the practical information (onsens, hikes, access…) of the area.

General facts

Okukinu is a remote (oku (奥) can be translated by “the inner part” or “the back”) valley, east of Kinugawa-onsen (鬼怒川温泉) hot springs resort which is part of Nikkō city in Tochigi prefecture. The name comes from Kinugawa (鬼怒川) river which means “the angry demonic river” which have its source in the region. Between mountains and gorges, renown for its onsens Kinugawa is also a great place for outdoor activities like hiking, kayak, rafting…

Located at about an hour and a half bus ride from Kinugawa-onsen, Meotobuchi-onsen (女夫淵温泉) hotel marks the end of the road and the start of Okukinu valley. A footpath follow the river to access the most remote onsens/ryokans in about an hour and a half walk. Ryokans can come and pick you up by car at Meotobuchi-onsen using a private road, but you would miss the pleasure of this easy walk. Onsens have several rotenburo (outside bath) the head in the green mountain and the foot in the clear blue water. Simply indescribable…

At the end of the valley, a trail goes up to Okukinu-numa (奥鬼怒沼) marsh, which at an altitude of 2020m (6627 ft) is the highest mars in Japan. From the nearby summit of Monomiyama (物見山) also called Bishamonyama (毘沙門山), at 2113m (6932 ft) it is possible to see Oze-numa (尾瀬沼) marsh.

Outing examples

• Okukinu　marshland (奥鬼怒沼)

In addition to hiking to Okukinu-numa marsh, if you have several days it is possible to plan several trek like a loop from Okuninu to Oze marsh ; hike to Senjōgahara (戦場が原) or do a full traverse from Oze to Senjōgahara passing by Okuninu on the way.

Onsens

Meotobuchi-onsen (女夫淵温泉) :
Located at the bu stop at the end of the road.
half board price: from 13000 yens
onsen price: 1000 yens
tel: 0288-96-0001
fax: 0288-96-0004
website: http://www.meotobuchionsenhotel.com/
Hacchō-no-yu (八丁の湯) :
Located along the river bank, an hour and a half walk from the bus stop.
half board price: 9800~13500 yens (à partir de 8500 yens par personne pour les groupes de 5).
onsen price: 500 yens
tel: 0288-96-0306 / 050-3090-6260 (pour les réservations uniquement)
fax: 0288-96-0888
website: http://www.8tyo-no-yu.co.jp/
Kani-yu (加仁湯) :
Located 20 minutes walk from Hacchō-no-yu.
half board price: from 10650 yens
onsen price: ?
tel: 0288-96-0311
fax: 0288-96-0927
website: http://www.naf.co.jp/kaniyu/
Nikkōzawa-onsen (日光沢温泉) :
Located at the end of the valley.
The must rustic of the five. Mainly used by hikers.
half board price: 8025 yens
onsen price: 500 yens
tel: 0288-96-0316
Teshirosawa-onsen (手白澤温泉) :
Located away from the main valley.
half board price: 11500~32000 yens (change depending on the number of persons in the group).
tel: 0288-96-0156
fax: 0288-96-0929
website: http://www.teshirosawa.co.jp/
email: mail@teshirosawa.co.jp
for emails in foreign languages: int.info@teshirosawa.co.jp

Access from Tōkyō

Train timetables : using http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ website, you can search Japan trains timetables in English.

Going to Okukinu by public transportation is a bit complicated, but it’s worth the effort…
From Shinjuku, you have to take a special JR/Tōbu train towards Nikkō (日光) up to Shimo-imaichi station (下今市駅) and change for a train on the Tōbu-okukinugawa ligne (東武鬼怒川線) to Kinugawa-onsen station (鬼怒川温泉駅). For example you can take the Nikkō #1 (日光1号) train which leaves Shinjuku at 7:30, arrives à Shimo-imaichi at 9:20, change there for a local train which leaves at 9:27 and arrives at Kinugawa-onsen at 9:50 (3900 yen, reservation necessary).
There are also few special JR/Tōbu direct trains from Asakusa station (浅草駅) stopping on the way at Kitasenju station (北千住駅) (station on the JR Jōbansen (常磐線) and the Chiyoda (千代田線) and Hibiya (日比谷線) subway lines). For example you can take the direct train Kinu #103 (きぬ103号) which leaves Asakusa station at 8:00, stops at Kitasenju station at 8:11 and arrives at Kinugawa-onsen at 9:58 (2900 yen from Asakusa, 2720 yen from Kitasenju, reservation necessary).
You can fin on this page (in Japanese) the link for the timable for the special JR/Tōbu trains to Kinugawa-onsen from Shinjuku and Asakusa.
A bus of Nikkō city operates between Kinugawa-onsen station and Meotobuchi-onsen four times a day. The bus leave from Kinugawa-onsen station at 7:35, 10:15, 13:15 and 15:50 and arrive at the terminus at Meotobuchi-onsen at 9:10, 11:50, 14:50 and 17:25 (1500 yen).
Check this pdf file (in Japanese) from Nikkō town homepage for the detailed timetables.

Return bus leave Meotobuchi-onsen at 7:45, 9:50, 12:45 and 15:35 and arrive at Kinugawa-onsen station at 9:20, 11:25, 14:20 and 17:10. If you go back by the last bus, a direct train Kinu #136 (きぬ136号), leaves Kinugawa-onsen station at 17:13, arrives at Kitasenju at 19:02 and at Asakusa at 19:16. If you want to go back to Shinjuku by only changing at Shimo-imaichi, you will have to go back earlier. The last direct train Shimo-imaichi – Shinjuku leaves at 16:45 (arrive at 18:35). To be on time for this train, you will have to take the one leaving Kinugawa-onsen station at 16:05 (arrive at Shimo-imaichi at 16:24).
Check this pdf file (in Japanese), for train timetable back to Asakusa and Shinjuku.

Maps

Necessary maps for Okukinu valley are:
1/25000地形図、川俣温泉、日光11号-2、 NJ-54-29-11-2 (Kawamata-onsen, Nikkō 11-2, NJ-54-29-11-2)
1/25000地形図、三平峠、日光11号-4、 NJ-54-29-11-4 (Sanpei-tōge, Nikkō 11-4, NJ-54-29-11-4)

Safety

Depending on your itinerary and the conditions, you might be exposed to avalanche risk. All members of your party should be equipped with a beacon, a shovel and a probe and trained on how to use them. These devices do not prevent avalanches! They are used to rescue your partners caught in an avalanche. So even if you are equipped and trained, it is your responsibility, to evaluate on the field the ever changing snow conditions, the avalanche danger, which is the safest route and if it is wiser or not to go back and cancel your outing.

Check the weather forecast on the english page of the Japan Meteorological Agency : http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html

For the latest information regarding mountain conditions, check Nikkō city tourist office web site (in Japanese) http://www.nikko-jp.org/index.shtml, ar call them at 0288-54-2496.

National phone numbers for rescue are 119 for firefighters/rescue and 110 for the police (prefer the firefighters for rescue). The following numbers can also be usefull in case of emergency:

• Nikkō city police station (日光警察署) at 0288-53-0110
• Tochigi prefecture police (栃木県警察本部) at 028-621-0110.