Okunikko (Japanese: 奧日光) located in Tochigi Prefecture of Japan, it is not a well known tourist attraction but the scenery is excellent. Yumoto (湯元) is amongst the most tranquil place in Okunikko, besides excellent hot spring hostels, it is also an ideal place to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Yumoto in Kanji means ‘the origin of hot water’, it is the spring of all hot springs in Nikko (日光), hence its name. All the springs are covered with small wooden huts, look so cute.
The air here is extremely pungent, the smell of sulphur is far stronger than the normal hot springs, the genuine smell of the earth’s core.
Not far from those wooden huts is the entrance of a mountain trail, once stepped in, you will be embraced by the green forest.
The stairs of this mountain trail are mainly formed by logs, which are completely matching with the surroundings.
Around one hour later, Choumeizai arrives Karikomi Lake (刈込湖), which looks like a beautiful gem in green.
The green of the Karikomi Lake is so charming that it can take your soul away.
Unexpectedly, Karikomi Lake is not ‘developed’, everything is still pure and clean, you cannot see any hotel or restaurant, only wild flowers and grasses, and a human being named Choumeizai.
