[Tochigi] Relax in the Japanese countryside! Experience Japanese culture at the tangible cultural property, the Iizuka Residence!

Enjoy the Japanese countryside to your heart's content! We introduce a cultural experience tour that is definitely recommended for any trip to Japan. Stay at the historic Iizuka Residence, a tangible cultural property, and enjoy a full range of hands-on activities, including making washi paper, bathing in hot springs, and having dinner with farming families!

Written by

Global Trust Networks

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This year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan is gradually increasing.

Recently, more and more foreign tourists are heading to rural areas a little further away from urban centers like Tokyo and Osaka, and many of them are enjoying the rich nature that is unique to rural areas and the nostalgic countryside scenery.

Recently, there are many tourist spots in the regions that foreign tourists can enjoy, and many places that hold seasonal events, so there are many attractive places that make you want to visit at least once!

In the countryside, you can have extraordinary experiences that you wouldn't be able to enjoy in your everyday life in the city, and see natural scenery that you can't see in the city.

On this tour, you can stay at the Iizuka Residence, a 200-year-old tangible cultural property, and enjoy a truly Japanese experience, including dinner at a local farmer's home, a washi paper making experience, and a private hot spring bath.

Be sure to join the Sunrise Tour and experience the charm of the Japanese countryside!

[SUNRISE TOURS × Countryside stays JAPAN: 3 days at the Iizuka Residence, a Tochigi Prefecture Tangible Cultural Property]

★Reservation page is here

★Tour reservations can be made at the GTN Haneda store. Be sure to stop by when you arrive at Haneda Airport, the gateway to Tokyo!

*Please note that depending on the date, the reservation may be full by the time you contact us.

*The GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store will officially close on October 31, 2025

GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store

225 Haneda Airport Garden 2F, 2-7-1 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-...

・Take the Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station!

・Washi paper making experience

・Stay at the Iizuka residence!

・Enjoy the hot springs

・Dinner experience at a farmhouse

・Let's stop by a roadside station

Take the Shinkansen to Utsunomiya Station!

Once you have signed up for the tour, you will need to collect your tickets at the designated pick-up location by the day before.

On the day, take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to Utsunomiya Station.

Upon arrival at Utsunomiya Station, your driver (Japanese-speaking only) will be waiting to greet you.

The countryside experience tour is finally about to begin!

*Notes

This tour is a free plan without an English-speaking guide or tour conductor. The driver (who speaks Japanese only) will communicate in English using Pocketalk or a mobile translation service. The staff at the Iizuka Residence can speak English.

Experience making washi paper

First, we will head to Karasuyama Washi Hall to experience making washi paper.

Let's try making washi paper, a traditional Japanese craft!

Washi paper, which has a texture that is a little different from the paper we normally use, is still used today for a variety of things such as folding fans, paper fans, and shoji screens.

Enjoy making washi paper, something you can only do in Japan!

Karasuyama Washi Hall

Address: 2-6-8 Chuo, Nasukarasuyama City, Tochigi Prefecture

Phone number: 0287-82-2100

Business hours: 9:00-18:00

Closed: Tuesdays

Stay at the Iizuka residence!

We finally arrived at the Iizuka residence.

The hotel staff will give you a general explanation on how to spend your time at the hotel. Be sure to ask the staff for recommendations on where to spend your time and where to have lunch.

In the evening, we will have a catered dinner at the Iizuka residence.

When making a reservation, you can choose between Japanese, Western, or vegetarian meals according to your preference.

Relax and enjoy your time in traditional Japanese architecture with over 100 years of history.

*Room type: Bunkogura, Dozo A, or Dozo B (requests cannot be accepted. Also, we cannot inform you of the room type in advance.)

Enjoy the hot springs at Azumaya Onsen

After breakfast on the second day, you will have free time (from around 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM) before departing for the hot spring facility. There are plenty of facilities to enjoy around the Iizuka Residence, including art museums and restaurants with menus featuring local ingredients.

After some free time, head to the hot springs accompanied by an English-speaking staff member.

The highlight of Motoyu Azumaya is the open-air bath with the Naka River stretching out before your eyes. The hot spring will warm your body from the inside out, leaving you feeling warm and cozy.

Furthermore, the hot spring water that Azumaya Onsen is so proud of is known as "beauty water." The water is so popular with women that it makes your skin smooth. Let's lose track of time and enjoy the hot springs at our leisure.

*The open-air bath is only available on weekends and holidays.

Motoyu Higashiya

Address: 1652 Oguchi, Nakagawa-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi Prefecture

Phone number: 0287-92-3355

Bathing hours: 24 hours (excluding cleaning times)

Dinner experience at a farmhouse

Dinner will be served at a local farmer's home. It's a rare opportunity to enjoy delicious country cuisine with locals, so it's sure to be an unforgettable dinner in Japan.

Whether you love Japanese food or it's your first time, you'll enjoy a delicious meal!

(If you would like a vegetarian meal, this can be changed if you request it at the time of booking.)

The staff at Iizuka Residence will explain the meals and interpret for you while you talk to the farmers.

After dinner, we will return to the Iizuka residence for our stay.

Let's stop by a roadside station

After breakfast on the third day, check out and move to the Kitsuregawa Roadside Station. Here you can enjoy a foot bath, some shopping, and have lunch.

Footbaths are like the small hot springs commonly found in Japan, and soaking your feet in one will calm your mind and allow you to easily enjoy a Japanese hot spring. Towels for the footbath will be provided by Iizuka Residence.

Kitsuregawa Roadside Station

Address: 4145-10 Kiryugawa, Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture

Phone number: 028-686-8180

Business hours: 9:00-18:00 (Business hours vary depending on the tenant.)

Facility closed: 2nd and 4th Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday)

Hot springs 10:00-21:30 (last entrance 21:00 *Kurhaus is closed for the time being)

Foot bath 11:00-17:00 (Closed on Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday)

After enjoying some shopping and lunch, your driver (Japanese speaking only) will take you to Utsunomiya Station to board the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. From Tokyo Station or Ueno Station, you will be responsible for returning to your hotel.

For tour details and booking website, click here

[This course]

SUNRISE TOURS × Countryside stays JAPAN

Three days at the Iizuka Residence, a Tochigi Prefecture tangible cultural property

*Tickets are currently on sale from August 21st.

*Please check the calendar linked below for tour dates and sales status.

*When making a reservation, please be sure to check the website for important notes and detailed schedule information.

Experience the Japanese lifestyle at the Iizuka Residence, a tangible cultural property in Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture. Enjoy a luxurious stay at the Iizuka Residence, which is integrated into the town, including the restaurants and shops in the town.

There will be an opportunity to interact with the local community by having dinner at a local farmer's home. English-speaking staff at Iizuka Residence will provide explanations about the meal. Enjoy interactive communication with the people living in the town.

You can enjoy a truly Japanese experience, such as making washi paper or taking a private hot spring bath.

This is a packed tour that includes round-trip Shinkansen travel from the city center, breakfast, and dinner.

*Notes

・This is a free plan without an English-speaking guide or tour conductor.

・Staff at Iizuka Residence can speak English.

・When making a reservation, please choose Japanese, Western, or vegetarian meals.

[Includes]

・Accommodation fees

・2 breakfasts

・2 dinners

・Round-trip transportation from Utsunomiya Station to Iizuka Residence

・First day's washi paper making experience fee

・Private hot spring fee for the second day

[Not included]

・Lunch on days 1 to 3

Book a sunrise tour at GTN Haneda!

*The GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store will officially close on October 31, 2025

GTN Haneda Airport Garden store can make reservations for sunrise tours.

Please feel free to visit us.

★How to get to GTN Haneda Airport Garden store

Directly connected to the Haneda Airport International Terminal Arrival Lobby!

If you go straight from the second floor arrival lobby towards the parking lot and bus stop, you will see the entrance to Haneda Airport Garden.

From the Haneda Airport Garden entrance, walk straight through the passage to the hotel entrance.

Once you find the Hospitality Center (information counter), walk straight along Haneda Sando on the right side and you will find the store.

Please feel free to come and visit us!

GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store

225 Haneda Airport Garden 2F, 2-7-1 Haneda Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-...

Check out the video below for detailed directions!

★How to get from Haneda Sando to GTN (instagram)

Written by

Global Trust Networks

Tokyo

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