UTSUNOMIYA CITY宇都宮市
KANUMA CITY鹿沼市
SAKURA CITYさくら市
NAKAGAWA TOWN那珂川町
TAKANEZAWA TOWN高根沢町
KAMINOKAWA TOWN上三川町
NASUKARASUYAMA CITY那須烏山市
NASUSHIOBARA CITY那須塩原市
NASU TOWN那須町
SHIOAYA TOWN塩谷町
YAITA CITY矢板市
OTAWARA CITY大田原市
NIKKO CITY日光市
ASHIKAGA CITY足利市
SANO CITY佐野市
TOCHIGI CITY栃木市
MIBU TOWN壬生町
OYAMA CITY小山市
NOGI TOWN野木町
SHIMOTSUKE CITY下野市
HAGA TOWN芳賀町
ICHIKAI TOWN市貝町
MOOKA CITY真岡市
MASHIKO TOWN益子町
MOTEGI TOWN茂木町
Nasushiobara City is located in the northern part of Tochigi Prefecture, covering an area of approximately 592.74 square kilometers. It borders Minamiaizu Town in Fukushima Prefecture to the north, Nasumachi to the east, Yaita City and Otawara City to the south, and Nikko City to the west. The population is about 116,000, with around 52,000 households (as of September 2023). Nasushiobara City is within 150 km of Tokyo and about 50 km from Utsunomiya City, with about 50% of the area being mountainous. The mountainous areas are part of Nikko National Park and are famous for their hot springs. The city has many hot spring resorts, such as Shiobara Onsen and Itamuro Onsen, attracting tourists year-round. The southeastern part of the city features flatlands along the Nakagawa and Hōkigawa rivers, characterized by dairy farming and agricultural areas. The region enjoys a cool climate typical of highlands above 200 meters, making it a popular summer retreat.
The history of Nasushiobara City dates back to the Edo period when the development of roads flourished, and the “Oshukaido,” connecting the Kanto and Tohoku regions, established it as a post town. At the same time, new rice field development was actively pursued alongside commercial activities and agriculture. In the Meiji period, the opening of railways and roads accelerated modernization. By the Showa period, the establishment of the Shiobara Imperial Villa in 1903 led to the area’s reputation as a vacation spot. In 1982, the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen saw the inauguration of Nasushiobara Station. In the Heisei period, the merger of Kuroiso City, Nishinasuno Town, and Shiobara Town in 2005 resulted in the formation of Nasushiobara City. Today, the city has urban areas around Kuroiso Station, Nishinasuno Station, and Nasushiobara Station, with a concentration of commercial facilities, and is known for its hot spring areas, balancing nature, commerce, and industry.
Nasushiobara City is well-known for its hot springs, particularly Shiobara Onsen, which has a history of over 1,200 years and symbolizes the city. Situated along the Hōkigawa River in the Shiobara district, it comprises 11 hot springs collectively known as “Shiobara Eleven Springs.” Each hot spring has different health benefits, making “Yume-guri,” or hot spring hopping, popular among tourists.
Surrounding the gorge are numerous waterfalls and suspension bridges. During the autumn foliage season, the natural beauty created by the leaves and waterfalls attracts many visitors. The Momiji Valley Big Suspension Bridge, located at the entrance of Shiobara Onsen, is also a popular tourist spot. This pedestrian suspension bridge is one of Japan’s largest, measuring 320 meters in length. During spring and autumn, visitors can enjoy the harmony between the dam and nature from the bridge. At the foot of the bridge, there is a facility called Forest Station, where local products can be purchased. Visitors can also experience SUP tours, a water sport that involves paddling on a surfboard across the dam lake. Nasu Senbonmatsu Farm is a popular spot about 5 minutes by car from the Nishinasuno Shiobara IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Spanning an area equivalent to about 178 Tokyo Domes, it features an area for interacting with animals, hot air balloon experiences, accommodation, and hot spring facilities, making it a great place for families to enjoy a full day of activities.
Nasushiobara City is served by the JR Utsunomiya Line, which includes the Tohoku Main Line and the Ueno-Tokyo Line. The stations include “Kuroiso Station,” “Nasushiobara Station,” and “Nishinasuno Station,” with Nasushiobara Station being a stop for the JR Tohoku Shinkansen, allowing passengers to board the “Yamabiko” and “Nasuno” trains.
The main roads passing through Nasushiobara City include National Route 4, which runs from Yaita City in the south to Nasumachi in the north, and National Route 400, which connects Otawara City in the east to Nikko City in the west. The city has access to the Tohoku Expressway, with Nishinasuno Shiobara IC and Kuroiso Itamuro IC available. Public buses operating in Nasushiobara City include services from Kanto Transport, JR Bus Kanto, and the Otawara City Bus. Moreover, community buses that circulate around major facilities in the city, such as the Yu Bus and Nasu Town Community Bus, are also available.
It is also possible to access Tokyo by train. There are many expressway interchanges and national highways, so it is convenient to travel long distances and there is little congestion.
Trains and buses are infrequent and difficult to use. Living without a car is inconvenient.
According to information from a real estate information website, the average rent in the city for a newly built apartment within a 10-minute walk from the station is about 65,000 yen for a 1DK and 116,000 yen for a 2LDK. The average land price per tsubo is about 70,000 yen per tsubo. Nasu-Shiobara city has a variety of housing options, including detached houses, condominiums, and apartments. The area is blessed with nature, with mountains, forests, and lakes all around.
This is an attractive area for people looking for a place to live surrounded by nature.
There are also things to take into consideration, such as demand as a tourist destination and the risk of natural disasters.
In Nasushiobara City, there are 21 nurseries, 10 kindergartens, 22 elementary schools, 10 junior high schools, 4 high schools, 1 junior college, and 1 vocational school. The Child Medical Expense Assistance Program covers children under 18 years old (up to March 31 after reaching 18) for both outpatient and inpatient care, providing full subsidies. Child allowances are provided as follows: 15,000 yen for children under 3, 10,000 yen for the first and second children aged 3 and older until they enter elementary school, 15,000 yen for the third child and beyond, and 10,000 yen for junior high school students.
Nasushiobara City has robust support systems in place. The Childbirth and Parenting Support Gift offers 50,000 yen to pregnant women who file a pregnancy notification and another 50,000 yen to those raising newborns. The Child-Rearing Support Coupon Program provides 30 child-rearing support coupons (worth 500 yen each for a total of 15,000 yen) to families raising children, which can be used for child-rearing services and related purchases. Coupons can be used for child-minding services or temporary care, and the “Family Support Center” creates an environment where those who want to support parenting and those who need support can help each other as members. Specifically, if parents have work or medical appointments, they can receive transportation or care at a relatively low cost, making it an accessible system. The Child-Rearing Community Plaza offers a place for households with small children to play and interact with other families. Child-rearing concierges with childcare qualifications are available at certain times to provide support and advice, making it a relaxing space for parents and children. The Children’s Cafeteria is established at 12 locations in the city, providing nutritious meals free of charge or at low cost to children and their parents. It also serves as a space for children, helping to combat isolation and providing a place for interaction between children and adults, thus playing a wide range of roles.
There are many places to play with children, such as ranches and parks with large play equipment.
Depending on the location, there may be few street lights and the roads may be dangerous at night.
Nasushiobara City has a variety of shopping facilities, including suburban large-scale shopping malls, outlet malls, and roadside stations. The Nasu Garden Outlet is a relatively new shopping facility that opened in 2008. It features a collection of stores offering outlet clothing from popular brands, attracting many visitors daily. Additionally, taking advantage of its proximity to the Nasu Highlands, it includes a “Loco Market” for souvenirs, the “Nasu Royal Berries Farm” where you can purchase blueberry products, and the “Animal Interaction Area” at the “Nasu Animal Kingdom,” which is also highly popular among tourists. The roadside station Meiji no Mori, Kuroiso allows visitors to purchase local agricultural products and stroll through its spacious grassy areas. It also features the former Aoki Family Nasu Villa, which is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and is open for public viewing. The roadside station Yunoka Shiobara is located in the Shiobara Onsen area, where visitors can buy fresh local vegetables and souvenirs. Moreover, there are rural restaurants and cafes, and events with food trucks are held on holidays, making it a popular spot for many tourists. Additionally, there are about 16 supermarkets in the city, mainly including York Benimaru and Super Ohtani.
There are many large supermarkets and roadside stations, so you will never have trouble finding something to buy.
Due to the large number of tourists, popular facilities tend to be crowded, especially on holidays.
The average annual income in Nasu-Shiobara is 3,090,000 yen. Agriculture is the main industry in Nasu-Shiobara, but the manufacturing industry is also thriving. In the agricultural field, in addition to rice and vegetables, dairy farming is also thriving. The area is home to some of the largest dairy farming areas in the country, and raw milk production is thriving. In terms of the manufacturing industry in the city’s overall agricultural output, there are numerous industrial parks within the city, and many factories in fields such as transportation machinery, rubber products, and food products can be found. This is an area where you can expect to find jobs related to the above fields.
There are relatively many tourism-related job openings in hotels, inns, restaurants, tourist facilities, etc. Demand can be particularly high during tourist seasons and holidays.
A shortage of young workers and professionals can be an issue, so you may find that job opportunities are limited and wages and working conditions are poor.
