Trip review of Tohoku: An autumn road trip around Nikko and Fukushima

This trip was completed in October 2025.

With Japan trying to attract tourists to visit other parts of the country outside of their popular cities, we decided to do our own road trip to the north of Tokyo. This trip included the well-known Nikko area, as well as Fukushima Prefecture which is further up in the Tohoku region. Coinciding with the beginning of the autumn season, it was more a sightseeing trip than anything else. However, what turned out to surprise us the most was the amazing glamping experience we had just a short drive away from Narita Airport.

Transportation: Toyota Rent-A-Car (Narita Airport Shop)

Toyota rent a car is a straightforward option for many international travelers deciding to do a road trip in Japan. Signages at Narita Airport are clear, and the overall process from the shuttle service to the actual collection of the rental car has been streamlined for foreigners over its many years of operations.

We highly recommend getting an ETC card along with the rental to make paying tolls on the roads more convenient. Some mountain roads may also be closed early depending on seasons so it is definitely worthwhile to at least plan the major checkpoints before setting out on the road trip.

Except the major cities, most suburban roads in Japan are easy to drive and navigate. We also avoided some highways in order to slowly take in the valley scenery around Aizuwakamatsu.

Accommodation: The Farm Resort Camp

Rating 8.8/10

Hidden within the Katori area and catering mostly to local Japanese families, this sprawling compound is only a short 15 minutes' drive from Narita Airport. The Farm is a 100,000m² multi-functional farm resort sectioned into different areas for accommodation, dining or experiences. There are parking spaces located beside the various facilities so guests can conveniently explore the extensive compound to enjoy the full suite of outdoor and indoor activities.

For accommodation, The Farm offers 3 main options of glamping, cottages or pitching a tent within their campsite. For our stay, we went for the glamping option and selected the villa room type amongst numerous other unique concepts. The villa came with a private deck comprising a 2-storey structure with the first floor dedicated to an alfresco dining area and one of their larger tents, while the lookout deck on the second floor is furnished with a sofa, candles and a bar table, suitable for a cozy stargazing night.

Though unassuming on the exterior, the tent opens to a functional air-conditioned bedroom with a double bed, some storage and a small seating area.

The tents do not come with their own bathrooms so guests will have to utilise the communal facilities located conveniently on-site. The communal bathrooms located just beside the glamping lounge are very clean and well-maintained. For the female bathrooms, there is a separate vanity area thoughtfully equipped with towels, hair dryer, comb and other necessities.

In addition, there is also Ofuro Café Karin no Yu, a natural hot spring available there, where guests are entitled to unlimited baths and sauna anytime throughout their stay. Due to a packed agenda, we did not manage to enjoy the family-friendly hot spring this time around, but we observed it to be a popular option among visitors. This venue is likely the default bathing option for overnight guests although it is still quite a walk from the glamping area.

Upon room reservation, guests could purchase a dinner plan to be enjoyed at the private dining area on each glamping deck. Between the wagyu sukiyaki and barbeque option, we picked the wagyu sukiyaki. At the appointed time, staff would bring over all the tools and ingredients needed to complete the dining experience. The friendly staff patiently explained how to prepare the meal and left behind a guide on preparation and cleaning up post-meal as well.

Breakfast buffet was served at the Farm Cafe with a “farm to table” philosophy, leveraging the produce from their onsite farm. Similarly, the buffet offered a mix of Japanese and Western selection. To manage the crowd, guests had a one-hour dining time which we found to be sufficient.

Activities hosted at The Farm are very suitable for families, which made up the bulk of the visitor demographic when we were there. Examples include vegetable harvesting and strawberry picking at their onsite farms, ziplining and horse-riding in their mini ranch. Some of them are seasonal and available for a limited period only. If you are keen on specific ones, do head over to their official website for a detailed schedule to avoid missing any.

Accommodation: Nikko Beans Hotel

Rating 8.1/10

Beside Lake Chuzenji is Nikko Beans Hotel, a cozy establishment with family-friendly rooms, an on-site restaurant and overnight parking space. Hotel guests are granted daily complimentary parking from the carpark but do check in with the staff on the specifics of the entitlement.

Upon arrival at Nikko Beans, we were greeted by a friendly old man who spoke just enough English to facilitate the stay. During check-in, he also got our preference on the timeslot for the next day’s breakfast. Breakfast was served in 2 sittings at the on-site restaurant at 7:30 AM or 8:30 AM. Do note that dinner is also served at set timings and must be reserved prior. The restaurant did not appear to take any walk-ins.

Along the corridor to the room, there is a self-service amenities station furnished with one-time use essentials such as sachets of shower gel, comb, hair tie and bedroom slippers.

The room comes with its own air-conditioning and heating system, is clean, cozy and sufficient for two. An ensuite bathroom is included as well.

The next morning, we arrived promptly at the restaurant for breakfast. We were shown a pictorial menu indicating that we could select from a western or Japanese option. Breakfast was conducted in a semi-buffet fashion where items like bread, milk, rice and miso soup were free flow.

Overall, we enjoyed the pleasant and cozy stay at Nikko Beans Hotel, complemented by its tranquil surroundings. Do note that shops and restaurants in the vicinity close relatively early – at 7 pm most were already shut for the day, while the select few that operate at dinnertime require prior reservation.

A short drive from Nikko Beans is Mt Hangetsu Observation Deck, affording panoramic views of Lake Chuzenji and Mount Nantai from a higher altitude. This is also a key reason for many who decide to stay a night or two at Nikko Beans.

Accommodation: EN Resort Grandeco Hotel

Rating 8.3/10

Venturing further into central Japan, nestled in the scenic Urabandai area within Fukushima prefecture is EN Resort Grandeco Hotel, a resort surrounded by stunning nature like Mt Bandai and Lake Onogawa. The resort consists primarily of two areas: a main hotel where guestrooms, restaurant and facilities such as pool and hot spring are, and a mountain area where seasonal activities take place including cable car rides, skiing and autumn foliage viewing. Regardless of the season guests choose to visit, there is a plethora of thoughtfully curated family-friendly activities to enjoy.

Upon driving into the resort, we were directed to a complimentary private carpark within the expansive compound. At check-in, flyers were given to inform us of the various activities we could participate in during the fall season, namely, bonfire with marshmallow-roasting, stargazing, and a morning walk amongst nature.

At the lobby, there is also a table tennis area, a coffee lounge where guests can help themselves to free-flow coffee, and a souvenir shop selling local snacks and mementos.

We got a room facing the woods, equipped with its own bathroom and living area. On the same floor, there is a small area dedicated to a vending machine selling drinks and a small but functional microwave. We found it very useful for heating up our convenience store purchases from the day.

The restaurant within the hotel serves breakfast and dinner buffet. We had the breakfast buffet the following morning which had a good spread of western and Japanese selections. A highlight from breakfast was locally harvested Fukushima rice, simple but very tasty.

Along with the stay, we also got complimentary tickets to a cable car ride at the neighbouring mountain area for autumn foliage viewing. Since the mountain area can be accessed via a brief minute’s drive from the main area, we visited after check-out from the resort.

Upon getting off the cable car, a Japanese-Italian restaurant can be found just at the station.

As the mountain area is most popular as a ski destination, it was relatively quiet when we were there. If you enjoy a peaceful time and autumn leaves, it could be a good time to visit.

Activity: Lake Chuzenji

Rating 8.5/10

Lake Chuzenji and the nearby temple is located at Nikko, about 3.5 hours drive from Narita Airport. As Nikko is located in the mountains, when we visited in mid-October, some leaves have already turned, making the drive very picturesque.

There are a few sightseeing spots in Nikko worth visiting, one which we highly recommend is Lake Chuzenji, the highest natural lake in Japan. Lake Chuzenji is located at the foot of Nikko's sacred volcano, Mount Nantai.

Being surrounded by mountains, autumn trees and small towns, the lake was perfectly framed, making it a good photo spot. Visitors also have the option to embark on a hiking trail along the perimeter of the lake.

Activity: Senjogahara Marshland

Rating 7.8/10

Likewise located within Nikko National Park, Senjogahara Marshland is a scenic hiking destination popular amongst locals and tourists alike. Entrance to the marshland is free-of-charge. If you’re looking to drive, there is a complimentary carpark directly opposite the entrance. You’ll also be able to find restrooms right outside the marshland.

The hiking trails are easy to navigate with well-maintained boardwalks. Several trails with varying lengths are available.

Be prepared to immerse in nature with views of surrounding mountains, meandering streams and lush expansive greenery. During the period when we were there, the plants have started to turn yellow and red. We think it could be a particularly beautiful time to visit.

With Tohoku being a relatively under-explored region of Japan, we found this road trip to be rejuvenating for the soul. We hardly encountered any other foreign tourists yet the language barrier at local places was not very daunting. Lastly, there are many other scenic areas within our road trip such as Ouchijuku, Nakatsugawa Valley and Bandai-Azuma Skyline which we would have loved to visit if not for the limited time we had. We highly recommend self-driving through the area, or at the very least, planning a few stops within Tohoku if taking the Shinkansen transport.