June 10, 2025

Chilling in Nature in Nikko

By student Dylan Yamaguchi

The trip to Nikko was extremely exhausting…in a good way! Despite the long bus trip, the reward at the end of the (metaphorical) tunnel was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. When we arrived at the hotel, it wasn’t the all-you-can-eat buffet that first shattered my expectations. It was actually the hot springs on the first floor that truly got my blood flowing! Obviously, no one can take pictures of the inside of the onsen (hot springs), but I took a picture of the walkway leading up to the entrance, the environment really encapsulating the feeling of walking to an actual mountain onsen.

A picture of a stone road leading through some thin bamboo sticks and paper lanterns. Brown screens are in the background. — The walkway to paradise, in bath form. If you ignore the roof, it actually feels like walking through a garden.

While I did enjoy soaking in the hot springs a little too much, (I went three times, once before dinner, once before going to sleep, and once after I woke up). The real draw of Nikko was the community. Less traffic, slower paced, really welcoming to guests. I went into one of the shops and was served at least three different samples of teas or treats. I even got to meet some feline friends that were friendlier than my own cat!

A grey and white cat is getting settled onto a green sweater atop a blue water cooler. A student wearing a red shirt and blue jeans is crouched in the corner of the photo looking at the cat. — Midori-chan (the cat) laying down on their favorite perch while Kodiak tries to get their attention. Midori-chan doesn’t care.

However, my crowning achievement, the thing I’m most happy doing, was the wood carving activity at the Nikko Tourist Center. I got to learn a piece of Japanese history while also creating something myself. And now I got a mirror with a slight caricature of leaves (momiji:もみじ) blowing in the wind. A true reminder of what I experienced here.

A blue mirror is shown in the photo with the back adorned with wooden carvings resembling leaves blowing in the wind. The initials “D.Y” are inscribed below the carvings. — Momiji (Leaves) blowing in the Kaze (wind). It is a bold take on the drawing sample that was provided.