【Solo Camping Trip】To Yunishigawa Onsen in a Jimny! Visiting a dam lake, a tranquil campsite, and hot springs for beautiful skin

I felt the charm of the accommodation at Yunishigawa Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture, and visited campsites, hot spring facilities, and scenic submerged forests. I was healed by the vividly remaining nature and the peaceful atmosphere, making for an enjoyable camping trip.

Yunishikawa Onsen located on the border between Tochigi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture

Yunishikawa Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture. When viewed from Tokyo, it is further north than Kinugawa Onsen, located in a region near the border with Fukushima Prefecture. This was a hot spring area that I arrived at after following a driving route. There is also a campground, and it seemed like a good place to stay, so I decided to visit.

Exploring the Yunishikawa Dam! A mystical submerged forest as well

Along the main road, Prefectural Route 249, the Yunishikawa River flows, and the Yunishikawa Dam has been constructed to utilize this flow. It was built as one of the dam groups upstream of the Kinugawa River to meet the water demand of the surrounding area and to prevent flood damage to the river basin, becoming the newest dam among the four dams located upstream of the Kinugawa River.

At the Yunishikawa Dam, there are dam tours utilizing an amphibious bus, allowing you to explore and sightsee above the surface of the dam water. Although it is a small hot spring area, it is well-equipped with various facilities and services.

Furthermore, the Yuinishikawa Dam has beautiful submerged forests. As the water level rises and falls, dead trees emerge from the lake surface, presenting a fantastical landscape. There are several large bridges on the prefectural road that cross the river, making it possible to view the submerged forest from the bridge.

I stopped in my tracks, captivated by the unexpected breathtaking scenery.

We arrived at the Yuinishikawa Onsen Ankamori Campsite

We will be staying at the Ankamori Campsite tonight. We received permission for photography and were able to capture images of the campsite.

The campsite is rich in nature, with a spacious area and a very quiet atmosphere. A stream called Shiratakizawa flows through the site, and it seems that fishermen and returning guests frequently use it.

The operating period is from April until the first Sunday in November, so this year's season will soon come to an end. Additionally, the current management building will be returned to Nikko City, and the hut further inside (in the image above) will become the management building from next season.

It's a beautiful flow of Shiratakizawa. There are walkways and forest roads leading to the mountains, and while walking, it feels almost like a mountain trail.

By the way, there is no signal from Docomo (mobile), and only AU and SoftBank can be used for calls, making it quite deep in the mountains.

We have arrived at this camping site, and the setup is complete. After moving for almost half a day, I am exhausted. In an environment where I can hear the sound of the stream and the chirping of the birds, I’ll take a moment to relax.

Having a camp meal of horse sashimi and grilled chicken while digital detoxing.

I thought it would be tiring, so I purchased ready-to-eat horse sashimi from Aizu. I bought it at a supermarket in Nikko, and it was fresh with a good taste of miso, surprisingly delicious. I decided to have horse sashimi camping again in Fukushima.

After the night settled in and I nibbled on grilled chicken by the campfire, I quickly felt sleepy and went to bed. Normally, I spend time looking at social media on my smartphone before sleeping, but on this day, I feel like I was able to digital detox and sleep well.

When I woke up and stepped out of the tent, I saw clouds slowly drifting in the sky. The movement of the clouds could be clearly felt even with the naked eye, giving a real sense of the altitude of this place. The rich natural environment and interaction with the cheerful manager were quite healing.

I would like to come for a fishing camp next season. Thank you very much.

Facility Name: Yunishigawa Onsen Anyakamori Campground
Location: 3-1878 Yunishigawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
Facility Usage Fee: 300 yen per person (elementary school students and up)
Free Site: 2000 yen per night and up
Auto Site: 4200 yen per night and up for Day Camp
Day Camp (up to 6 people): 2500 yen (from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
Phone: 0288-98-0145 or mobile: 080-9373-0060
Reception Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Daily reception) *However, only during the business period (April to November)

On the way back, hot springs! Enjoying the beautiful skin hot spring at Yunishigawa Mizunosato

I received a discount coupon for the hot springs at the campground, so I came to the nearby hot spring facility, "Yunishigawa Mizunosato." It is operated vibrantly by local seniors, creating a very pleasant atmosphere. Tourists who were not seen recently are now coming in one after another, indicating its popularity.

After thoroughly enjoying the hot spring known for its beautiful skin benefits, I refreshed myself and headed towards Tokyo for the next filming location. This time, it was also a long-distance filming trip, but I was healed by the interactions and scenery through the interviews, making it a very good journey.

Facility Name: Yunishigawa Mizunosato
Location: 1-473 Yunishigawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
Bathing Fee (for those outside of Nikko City): 700 yen for middle school students and up, 350 yen for elementary school students
Regular Holiday: Tuesday
Phone: 0288-980-260

Interview/Article by Kazuma Tanaka

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