OnsenBase › Nasu, Tochigi

Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa

Why it’s on OnsenBase

The reassurance pick. If booking a no-name Japanese inn feels like a leap, here’s an Accor property — the Grand Mercure brand — with onsen baths, open-air baths, saunas and a pool, where the 36 m² tatami family room dips under ¥10,000 on quiet dates. 170 reviews at 4.1/5. International hotel standards, English-capable staff, and a genuinely Japanese highland-resort experience at once.

What to expect

Nasu is where Japan’s Imperial family spends summer: cool highlands, dairy farms, outlet shopping and a mountain shrine or two. The hotel (formerly the Rindoko Royal — some booking sites still show that name) was fully rebranded by Accor with an “all-inclusive-ish” concept: many rates bundle drinks and lounge access, so compare plan inclusions, not just prices. The big communal baths use real spring water.

Notes for international travelers

• You need wheels. This is countryside — rent a car or budget for taxis from Nasu-Shiobara station. The Shinkansen from Tokyo takes ~70 minutes.
• Old name alert: listings as “Rindoko Royal Hotel” on some OTAs are the same property.
• Tattoos: communal baths follow standard Japanese rules — ask at the front desk about current policy; covers are commonly accepted at international-brand properties.
• With kids: tatami family rooms plus a pool make this one of the easiest “real Japan” resorts for families on this side of Tokyo.