Nasu Sesshoseki and Shimogo Kannon-numa　　那須殺生石、下郷観音沼

Oct. 28th. 2025

Michi no eki Nasukogen　　道の駅那須高原友愛の森

Morning displays Natsukogen Yuai no mori in all its glory. There are a very large number of shachuhaku vehicles and people arriving for the large shop selling the usual veg. and omiyage(souvenirs). The large plaza area has a display of art works in stone and wood. Also, a shop selling various craft works from jewelry to a large, wooden Godzilla. Adjacent to this, sizeable workshops for woodcarving, pottery, rattan work and perhaps other things. Classes are held here, I would suppose.

The place is busy for a chilly Tuesday morning.

Rubbish bins are provided, one notably full of wine bottles. People waiting for their Teslas to charge maybe.

Sesshoseki　　那須殺生石

Our first stop of the day is Sesshoseki. Here we look around a rocky, volcanic area where hydrogen sulphide and other gasses are escaping from the ground in an unspectacular fashion.

Not very interesting as a jigoku nor is the adjacent shrine but quite busy.  

Shimogo Kannon-numa

From Sesshoseki we want to go Mt. Chausu-dake, but it is raining constantly so drive on to Shimogo Kannon-numa. This lake has a local reputation for autumn colours.

On arrival, we are met with a large, rather terrifying and very dramatic Beware of the Bears notice. Nevertheless, tinkling our bells, we take a short walk to the lakeside where we find a few photographers. It is a very pretty spot but the leaves are clearly past their best. We do not venture very far around the lake through the woods.

The rest of the day  is spent driving as the weather becomes stubbornly wet. This drive, along Route 121, is rewarding in places, as the occasional patch of sunlight catches the wet leaves giving a wonderful display of colour.

Nikko　　日光

We pass through Nikko with its hordes of visitors. Make a brief stop at The Boathouse, one of our favourites. This too has become more popular in the last few years.

Then out past Senjogahara and over the mountains at Konsei Toge Pass. This is a spectacular drive. The mountains are very rugged, the lower slopes greys and golds and the tops dusted with snow.

Michi no eki Shirasawa　　道の駅白沢

We drop down to michi no eki Shirasawa. We have stayed here before. The parking is large and broken up with bushes and trees. It has an onsen but the facilities are not great and limited for the size of the parking.

＊Sirasawa Bokyo no yu ; 700 yen / adult