REPORT

NASPA New Otani is a hidden gem, and the perfect place for an easy, summer mountain getaway. Getting there is simple as well: Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa takes just 80 minutes by Shinkansen, and from there it’s a free, 2 to 3 minute shuttle ride to the hotel. For those traveling by car, summer traffic on the Kan-Etsu Expressway is generally light, and NASPA is only about five minutes from the Yuzawa IC. Today I spoke with two visitors from Kanagawa Prefecture (pictured, foreground) who told me, “This is our first time in Yuzawa. We had always thought of it mainly as a ski destination, but it’s a great place to visit in summer too.”
[ASOBI GARDEN・Trout Fishing & Grilling Experience]

ASOBI GARDEN, is an all-weather activity facility open from 4/25 (Sat.) to 11/3 (Tue., public holiday) that offers an impressive 24 different activities that can be joined using ASOBI Tickets (worth ¥500 each). In the Trout Fishing & Grilling Experience, you catch a rainbow trout using a rental rod and bait, clean and prepare it yourself with help from the staff, then season it with salt and grill it over charcoal to enjoy it hot and fresh. The same two visitors told me, “It was our first time preparing a rainbow trout ourselves. It was a really memorable experience.”
[ASOBI GARDEN・Trout Fishing & Grilling Experience]

I also spoke to a family from Saitama Prefecture (pictured) who commented, “We chose NASPA for this trip because there are so many activities for children. We stayed here last night and really enjoyed the hotel’s food.” Another popular attraction is the Four-Wheel Buggy Experience, which can be driven solo or by a parent and child together. Participants get five minutes to make their way freely around a preset course (pictured).
[ASOBI GARDEN・Four-Wheel Buggy Driving Experience]

Another group of five visitors from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures (pictured) told me, “This is our first time staying at NASPA. After a few drinks last night, we somehow ended up buying matching T-shirts,” they said with a laugh. “Mölkky is a lot of fun, but these games can really drag on!” Originating in Finland, Mölkky is an outdoor game in which players throw a wooden baton to knock down numbered pins, with the goal of reaching exactly 50 points. Score even one point over 50, however, and your total drops back to 25 and play continues. (Continued in Pt. 2!)
[ASOBI GARDEN・Mölkky]

　
[NASPA Information]
*Season … Apr. 25 (Sat.) – Nov. 3 (Tue.), 2026
*Hours … 9:00 a.m.-:00 p.m.
*Price … ASOBI GARDEN tickets are JPY500 each, or JPY5,000 for a booklet of 11 tickets.
　
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reported by Snownavi