Enjoying the snow-blanketed scenery while soaking in a relaxing hot spring
Kinugawa Hot Springs offers natural seasonal beauty all year round. In wintertime, the area's biggest draw are the hot springs. The soothing waters warm a cold body to the core and provide complete relaxation. At one of the many open-air hot springs, you can take in the breathtaking snow scenery while bathing. A special treat is the dreamlike beauty created when snow on the surrounding mountains is carried by the wind into town, where it floats gracefully in the air—a phenomenon known as kazahana, or "snow petals." For even more snowy delights there is Yunishigawa Hot Springs, located 1 hour by bus from Kinugawa. The heavy snowfall there creates an otherworldly beauty. From January 26 (Saturday) through March 2 (Sunday), the area holds its Kamakura Festival, where you can sit inside hollowed-out snow mounds ( kamakura) and enjoy various events. Why not relax and enjoy Japan's wintertime traditions?
Smooth, silky skin from hot spring waters that are especially popular with women
Kinugawa Hot Springs has a long, rich history and is said to have been discovered over 300 years ago, during the Edo Period. In those days, bathing in the hot springs was restricted to the monks of Mt. Nikko and to feudal lords who pilgrimaged there. In the Meiji and early Showa periods (from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s), Kinugawa was known as "Taki no Yu" (Waterfall Hot Springs) and became known and loved nationwide. The waters of Kinugawa also became renowned for their healing properties. Even today, women are especially enamored of the silkiness that the waters impart to their skin. These waters are also said to treat a wide range of other afflictions, such as neuralgia, muscle aches, joint stiffness, poor circulation, and chronic fatigue. Kinugawa contains numerous hot springs that emphasize the healing properties and high quality of their waters. This is why so many travelers come to Kinugawa especially for the waters. When you are cold and tired from your winter travels, why not relax and refresh both body and spirit in Kinugawa's amazing hot springs?