THE KEY HIGHLAND NASU
ザ キー ハイランド ナス
Does THE KEY HIGHLAND NASU allow tattoos? In a private bath
THE KEY HIGHLAND NASU is an all-inclusive forest resort, and its two suite types each come with a private terrace and an open-air bath of natural hot spring water.
THE KEY has no published tattoo rule. Its suites have a private open-air bath drawing natural hot spring water, so book a suite to bathe alone.
The bath
THE KEY publishes no spring analysis, only that its baths are natural hot spring water. There are two bath buildings. The hot spring bathhouse has an indoor tub, a sauna and an open-air bath among the trees, open 3 p.m. to midnight and 5 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Mori-no-Spa, the forest spa, has four tubs: an infinity-edge open-air bath that the hotel says seems to merge with the forest, an indoor tub, a loyly sauna and a jacuzzi. It is the women's side from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and the men's from 5 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., so the two sides swap overnight. The Aqua Garden, an all-weather pool with floating shells and gazebos, is open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; bring a swimsuit.
For a tattooed guest the answer is a suite. Suite type A, five rooms of 50 m² for two to four, has a private terrace and an open-air bath that the hotel says draws natural hot water, plus a shower and twin beds that can become three. Suite type B is a single 72 m² room for two to four with four beds, an open-air bath on its terrace and an indoor bath as well. The suite tub is an oval of cream stone fed by a square stone spout, set beside a louvered wooden door with the forest right outside. Each is for the room's guests only, at any hour.
The hotel
An all-inclusive resort of 36 rooms for 126 guests in the forest at Takaku, run by the Kanaya group with its Club Kanaya members' scheme, all non-smoking. Six room types run from 22 m² Western twins to a 66 m² wide Japanese-Western room for up to eight, all with a window on the woods. Meals, drinks including wine, the Aqua Garden and the karaoke room are in the room rate. Mori-no-Kitchen runs the day: marshmallows at the fireplace lounge from 3:30 p.m., starters on the wood terrace at 5:30, an open-kitchen grill dinner from 6 p.m., a breakfast buffet from 7:30 a.m., and make-your-own soft serve until 10:30 a.m. Check-in is 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Good to know
- Everything is included: meals, wine and drinks, the pool garden, the karaoke room and e-bikes.
- Free shuttle at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., back at 11 a.m.; book five days ahead and meet under the west-exit escalator.
- The two bath buildings swap sides overnight, so each sex gets the infinity bath once a stay.
- Stargazing dome, hammocks and morning yoga, weather permitting; hammocks close in winter.
Getting there
Two and a half hours from central Tokyo by the hotel's count: the Tohoku Shinkansen to Nasushiobara Station, then the hotel's free shuttle, which leaves the station at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and returns from the hotel at 11 a.m. Book it at least five days ahead through the reservation center; staff wait with a sign under the west-exit escalator. The hotel publishes no route bus. By car, set the navigation by address, as the building is new to map databases.
Nasushiobara STN · Tohoku Shinkansen
Not walkable.
Free shuttle 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. out, 11 a.m. back, booked five days ahead. No route bus published.
Where it is
Hotel shuttle stop
- Tohoku Shinkansen 1 hr 8 min
- hotel's free shuttle
- Shinkansen tickets Seats between any two stations, booked by date.
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass ¥16,000 · 3 days Worth it if Nasu is one stop in a longer Kanto trip.
- Japan Rail Pass from ¥53,000 · 7, 14 or 21 days For a trip that takes in several regions by Shinkansen and JR lines.
What happens when you arrive
Use the bath in your room, or reserve a private bath.
How we know
Bath layout confirmed, tattoo policy not published Checked on the official site ()
Best for: an all-inclusive stay where drinks come with the room and the suite has its own spring bath
There are two suite types with an open-air bath; Suite type A (five rooms, 50 m²) sleeps two to four.
Book your stay
- AAgodaCheck availability
- TTrip.comCheck availability
- EExpediaCheck availability
- HHotels.comCheck availability
Booking through these links costs you nothing extra and earns us a small commission, which keeps this guide free and up to date for our tattoo community. Thanks for your support.