| Kinugawa 鬼怒川 | ||
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| State | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Kantō | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Kinugawa also called Kinugawa Onsen is a city of Kantō.
To know
The name "Kinugawa" literally means "angry river demon". The exact provenance is unclear, but the most likely explanation is that this came from the raging waters within - although the river is now dammed and considerably more placid.
The central area is home to several hotels and ryokans, most with their own hot springs.
Geographical notes
If you want to save money and time, it might be worth heading north to Kawaji or one of the many tiny spa villages collectively known as Oku-Kinu (奥 鬼 怒, "Inner Kinu").
Background
Kinugawa Onsen, known as okuzashiki (奥 座 敷) or Tokyo's "parlor", was opened for development in the early Meiji period, and became a popular destination for those who wanted to escape the noise and congestion of the city.
Unfortunately, due to a drop in group tours and the bankruptcy of the regional bank in the area, Ashikaga Bank, in the late 1990s, many of the larger hotels were closed and today and their closed hulks they maintain have an intrusive stance. Still, the resort is home to dozens of hotels, guesthouses and ryokans, and the area - along with neighboring Kawaji - still attracts over 2 million visitors each year.
How to orient yourself
Kinugawa: full screen map.Neighborhoods
- 1 Kawaji
How to get
By plane
The airport limousine buses make two round trips per day from the Haneda airport terminals. It takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes and costs ¥ 3300 one way.
On the train
- 1 Kinugawa-Onsen station. Operated by Tobu.
- 2 Kinugawa-Kōen station. Operated by Tobu.
- 3 Kawaij onsen station.
With the Tobu Railway from Asakusa
Tobu operates frequent connections to Kinugawa from their station terminal in Asakusa to Tokyo, which is connected to the metro lines 
. Conventional commuter services take approximately 3 hours - 3 hours 30 minutes depending on the time of day and cost ¥ 1550, with several changes required. A more convenient way to travel to Kinugawa is on one of Tobu's limited direct express services, which take 2 hours and are operated by old trains SPACIA or the new trains Revaty. Services depart every 30-60 minutes and cost ¥ 2890 for the SPACIA or ¥ 2990 for the Revaty. All services stop comfortably at the Tokyo SkyTree station.
The limited express trains offering direct service to Kinugawa are called Kinu (trains SPACIA) is AIZU (trains Revaty), with the latter continuing to the region of Aizu. There are also trains Kegon but you have to switch to a local service from Shimo-Imaichi to reach Kinugawa.
Tobu offers some travel passes for foreign tourists who wish to visit Kinugawa and nearby Nikkō. Passes for foreign tourists can be purchased online through Tobu's website or in person at the Tobu tourist information desk at Asakusa Station.
- Nikko Pass - World Heritage Area.
2000¥. 
duration 2 days. This pass includes unlimited train travel between Tobu-Nikko, Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa, and discounted entry to Edo Wonderland is Tobu World Square. Also includes unlimited bus travel for Nikkō between train stations and world heritage sites. - Nikko Pass - All Area. ¥ 4,520 (from mid-April to November) - ¥ 4150 in all other periods. duration 4 days. In addition to the features of the pass World Heritage Area, includes unlimited bus trips between Nikkō, the Chūzenji Lake, Yumoto Onsen and the Kirifuri waterfalls.
2000¥. 
duration 2 days. This pass includes unlimited train travel between Tobu-Nikko, Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa, and discounted entry to Edo Wonderland is Tobu World Square. Also includes unlimited bus travel for An additional pass available to everyone, not just foreign tourists, is:
- Marugoto Nikko Kinugawa Free Pass. ¥5630-6150. duration 4 days. The pass includes unlimited train travel between Tobu-Nikko, Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa, unlimited bus travel in the Kinugawa area and unlimited bus travel from Nikkō to world heritage sites, the Chūzenji Lake, Yumoto Onsen and the Kirifuri Falls.
Included in these passes is one round trip from the Asakusa area on standard commuter trains. You can purchase separate booking tickets for limited express services direct on SPACIA (¥ 1340 each way) or Revaty (¥ 1440 each way). There is also a 20% discount on these tickets when purchased with a pass.
With JR / Tobu from Shinjuku / Ikebukuro
JR and Tobu operate jointly with express trains a few times a day from stations in Shinjuku is Ikebukuro and reach Kinugawa in 2.5 hours for ¥ 4000. Three of the four trains go directly to Kinugawa, while one service requires a transfer to a local train in Shimo-Imaichi. JR East Regional Passes, including the Tokyo Wide Pass, fully cover this trip. National Japan Rail Pass holders must pay a supplement for the part of the journey on Tobu routes.
With JR trains
There is no easy way to get to Kinugawa using the Japan Railways. Kinugawa is easier to reach with Tobu, but there are a few options for Japan Rail Pass users. There is a small additional cost, and you will need to make some train changes.
- Option 1: take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo area to Utsunomiya, then take the JR Nikko Line to the station Imaichi (1 hour 45 minutes, for ¥ 5060 without reservation without rail pass). Walk 1km northeast to Tobu Shimo-Imaichi Station, then take a 20-minute journey on the Tobu service to Kinugawa Onsen (¥ 250).
- Option 2: instead of getting off at Imaichi by JR train, continue for another 15 minutes to the station terminal in Nikkō. Walk 200-300m to Tobu Nikkō Station, then take a Tobu train to go to Kinugawa Onsen via Shimo-Imaichi (30-60 minutes depending on train, ¥ 310).
Japan Rail Pass holders must purchase Tobu tickets separately. IC cards like Suica is Pasmo they can also be used for Tobu trains.
Before traveling, it is advisable to check train timetables and connections using Hyperdia or a similar site.
Note that some hotels in Kinugawa also offer a free or low-cost shuttle bus service to / from Utsunomiya Station. These services usually require a hotel reservation and advance notice.
By bus
Tohoku Express Bus operates a daily return service from the train station Tokyo, reaching Kinugawa Onsen Station in 3 hours and 30 minutes. The journey costs ¥ 2500 one way or ¥ 4000 return. The bus from Tokyo departs at 7:50 am and the return trip from Kinugawa Onsen departs at 3:30 pm. The bus also stops at Tobu World Square.
There is also a twice daily bus service from the station Yokohama, which is the same bus that serves Kinugawa from Haneda Airport (4 hours 30 minutes, ¥ 3300).
| Streets passing through Kinugawa |
| Aizu Wakamatsu ← towards Yagan Railway ← Shin Fujiwara ← | No. _symbol.svg/30px-Tobu_Nikko_Line_(TN)_symbol.svg.png){kind=small} S. | → Nikkō → Tochigi → verse _symbol.svg/30px-Tobu_Skytree_Line_(TS)_symbol.svg.png){kind=small} → Tokyo Skytree |
| Yonezawa ← Aizu Wakamatsu ← | No.  IS | → Nikkō → Utsunomiya → Mooka → Mashiko |
| Kashiwazaki ← Nagaoka ← Oze ← | OR  IS | → Nikkō → Kanuma |
| Nishiaizu ← Kaneyama ← | No.  IS | → Nasu Shiobara → Otawara → Myth |
How to get around
Kinugawa is quite distracting. you can use the buses which however have low frequency or expensive taxis. If you are arriving by train, check if your accommodations are closer to Kinugawa Onsen or Kinugawa Kōen station.
What see
There is little to see in the city, however Nichien Momiji Line, the highway that connects Kinugawa and Kawaji, offers a fairly scenic route.
Events and parties
What to do
There are two theme parks in the called area Kinugawa Theme Park, which attract many Japanese visitors.
- 1 Tobu World Square (東 武 ワ ー ル ド ス ク ウ ェ ア) (Bus from Kinugawa Onsen Station (5 minutes) or walk from Kosagoe Station (8 minutes)). 2500/1200 ¥ adult / child. A 1:25 miniature model of the world's most famous sites, covering everything from the Pyramids to the Statue of Liberty and, oddly enough, Narita Airport.
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- 2 Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura (江 戸 ワ ン ダ ー ラ ン ド 日光 江 戸 村), 470-2 Karakura (Free shuttle from Tobu Nikko Station or local bus from Kinugawa Onsen Station), ☎ 81-288-77-1777. Adults: ¥ 4,700; children: ¥ 2,400. Thu-Mar 09: 00-17: 00; closed on holidays. A cultural theme park that evokes and showcases the life and culture of the Edo period. The park is home to Edo period architecture from rural housing to urban samurai residences and government buildings. It also features 7 theaters with various traditional themed shows including Ninja action, Oiran shows, ninja workshops, traditional Japanese archery, shuriken throwing and costume rental.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Most guests eat in their own accommodations, but there are a handful of restaurants just outside Kinugawa Onsen Station.
Where stay
The 1990s recession hit Kinugawa hard, and many hotels have occupancy problems (or have been closed permanently). This means that there are some good bargains to be found, especially out of season.
Moderate prices
- 1 Minshuku Ichinoya (民宿 一 乃 屋), 199 Nokado (60 minutes by bus from Kinugawa), ☎ 81 288-97-1204. 7000 yen with two meals. In the heart of the mountains west of Kinugawa, this rustic inn specializes in hearth-cooked dishes (irori). Public spas next door.
High prices
- 2 Okukinu Onsen Kaniyu (奥 鬼 怒 温泉 加 仁 湯), Oku-Kinugawa (Public bus from Kinugawa station to Meotobuchi (女 夫 渕), then 25 minutes by shuttle bus), ☎ 81 288-96-0311, fax: 81 288-96-0927. 12,000 yen with two meals. A hotel lost in the mountains with 8 springs including 7 mixed and / or private baths. You can eat bear sashimi and share a bath with your partner, looking at the stars, river and waterfall.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- Nikkō - With its national parks and opulent sanctuaries.
- Chūzenji Lake - A lake around Nikkō.
