川治温泉駅~川治湯元駅間の車窓から見た「湯けむりの里 柏屋」 "Yukemuri no Sato Kashiwaya" seen from window of Aizu-kinugawa Line train
From October 8th to 9th, I went on a two-day and one-night trip in Kawaji Hot Spring area in Tochigi Prefecture little farther than Kinugawa Hot Spring area. Where I stayed was "Yukemuri no Sato Kashiwaya", which is located where Kinugawa River and Ojika River meets. From the window of the guest rooms and open-air bath, it has a beautiful view of Aizu-kinugawa Line train crossing the river.
Changing to a local train on Tobu Kinugawa Line and Yagan Railway Aizu-kinugawa Line at Kinugawa-onsen (Kinugawa Hot Spring) Station, which is the terminal of Tobu limited express "SPACIA" and JR East's limited express "Kinugawa", it took me to Kawaji-yumoto Station with travel time of 20 minutes. Then, complimentary shuttle service for the inn waited in front of the station. It took about 5 minutes to the inn.
At first, I was guided to the lobby by a staff and a cup of green tea was prepared.
In my room, I watched some trains pass from the window and relaxed in a few minutes. Next, I went to hot spring bath. The inn has three types of hot spring bath, inside, outside under the roof, and open air. The view of the river and the train was seen not only from the open-air bath, but also from the big window of inside bath and dressing room.
If you would like to watch the train from the bath, I recommend you that you must check the timetable of the train in a folder of how to stay or shown in the dressing room before bathing. Bringing camera to the bath including dressing room is prohibited.
After bathing, I went back my room to bring my camera and went to riverside observation deck over "Shiki no Mori" garden spreading in front of the inn.
As the sky was getting dark, Tobu 6050 Series running on the bridge was seen. I photographed the inn, foot bath between the two observation decks, river, and carriage visionary (on the top).
Coming back my room, dinner time had come. Mixed rice withmaitake(Grifola frondosa) fan-shaped and multiple-layered mashroom, sliced raw fishes, salt-seasoned grillediwanamountain trout, and original beef stew etc. were served. My most favourite one was beef stew, which could be tasty and whose beef well-cooked. The photographs of the dinner was shown on inn'sofficial websiteorRakuten Travel website.
On the morning of 9th, rice from local farmers, miso soup withkanpyothin dried calabash fruit, tofu, etc.. Among the breakfast, my most favourite dishes were miso soup and tofu. A characteristic texture ofkanpyoin miso soup, flavour of tofu, and taste of tofu in thick sauce were impressive.
I really enjoyed the hot springs, view of the train, and the diets made from local ingredients in Tochigi Prefecture.