Getting into the Christmas vibe in Santa Hills

It took me years of searching before I finally found an authentic Christmas vibe in the Kanto plain. In the Nasu area of Tochigi. Before discovering that Nasu has an authentic Christmas feel to it, I had tried dozens of places around the Kanto plain for the proceeding 14 years! And since discovering that Christmas vibe in Nasu, now five years ago, we start every Christmas season off with a visit to the area.

We played it safe for the four years between 2015 and 2018 and revisited Finland No Mori the place I found the Christmas spirit for the first time in Japan. However, this year, we decided to try somewhere else. And where better to enjoy Christmas than in Santa's house in Santa Hills.

Actually, if truth be told, I wanted to stay in the Santa House in Santa Hills since 2015 when I saw it in a leaflet while touring around Nasu. And from 2016 I tried every year, unsuccessfully, to get a booking. It books up fast. You need to book in January 2020 if you want to stay there next Christmas. But this year I was finally successful. I remembered to book it in January and we secured a coveted spot in the Santa house for this Christmas period.

Santa Hills

Santa Hills is a campsite with tent sites and cabins in Nakagawa Town in the Nasu district of Tochigi. It is a popular spot all year round for campers and the various types of cabins are also in demand throughout the year. I was so surprised that the tent camping area was fully booked up when we visited this month, despite the minus temperatures at night. But after just one hour there I understood why.

The campsite has lots for children to do. And there are several attractions for people of all ages. For example, they have an onsen bus: yes a hot spring in a bus. There is pretty night illumination in December. They have a Christmas market all year round that has a small Santa museum of sorts in it too. There is a nice little cafe. And they offer several crafts and hands on experiences. 

You don't actually have to book to stay in the Santa House to view it, or indeed to enjoy Santa Hills. Walk ins can enjoy the aforementioned cafe on site or come by to look at the illumination. And the Santa  House is open to the public between noon and 4 pm on days that people aren't staying more than one night. For this reason though check in and check out for lodgers is much earlier than any other accommodation in Santa Hills. 

Santa House

The Santa House was a pure joy to stay in. Not just for the kids, for me too. As you come in the door there is a little model Santa town in a big alcove. A working organ sits by the window of the large hallway. As you turn into the living room you are greeted by a stunning ten foot Christmas tree, subtly decorated with minimal twinkle lights and a few baubles. Look left and you see the alluring authentic fireplace, like something right out of Santa's grotto. 

And just when you think it can't get any better, you see it: Santa's sleigh, a real Santa sleigh, perched on a large dais in the dining room cum kitchen. That's not to mention the reindeer rocking horse or the large wooden slide upstairs between the elves' bedroom and a sub level hideout for the kids. And as if all that wasn't enough, the man himself - Santa Claus - stopped by later that night to welcome him to his Nasu home and with a gift for each of the children. The stuff of little children's dreams.

Santa Claus visits every child staying in Santa Hills, be it in a tent or a cabin, every day of the month of December. If you are looking for something special to do with the kids, that won't break the bank, I (and my four children aged between five and ten years old) can highly recommend Santa Hills for a real Christmas vibe and a bit of Christmas magic.